This shift was prompted by the limited economic potential of identified gold anomalies in the area. However, a thorough analysis of the data revealed the presence of abundant outcropping carbonate materials, opening up promising industrial opportunities, particularly to meet the high demand for limestone in the local cement industry. During its initial research, the company discovered a large quantity of carbonate rocks, containing marble and limestone, on its Wapouzé gold project in northern Cameroon. Of the 14 rock chip samples collected and analyzed in the laboratory, 13 proved to be high-quality minerals suitable for cement production. According to analysts, limestone presents a beneficial alternative to clinker, the main component of Portland cement, whose production generates around 8% of global CO2 emissions. Clinker production requires heating limestone and clay to extremely high temperatures (around 1450°C), an energy-intensive and polluting process. Partially substituting clinker with limestone could significantly reduce these emissions. Studies estimate that replacing 20 to 30% of clinker with limestone could decrease CO2 emissions by nearly 20%. In addition to its positive environmental impact, limestone is an abundant and more easily exploitable natural resource than other raw materials used in the cement industry. Its use promotes the preservation of rare resources and improves certain properties of cement, such as durability and long-term resistance, while reducing production costs. Thus, the intensification of limestone exploration in Cameroon and the development of the sector by Oriole Resources could strengthen the security of the local industry in the face of fluctuations in the international clinker market. By exploiting local limestone, the country would reduce its dependence on imports, stabilize production costs, and support economic growth. Currently, according to Oriole Resources, the cement industry in Cameroon is estimated to be around £700 million per year (approximately 547.8 billion FCFA at the exchange rate of January 29, 2025). However, it remains heavily reliant on clinker imports, a key component obtained from high-quality limestone. By further exploiting this local resource, Cameroon could strengthen its industrial independence and reduce its ecological footprint .

Christelle koambi