The group was awarded the Leadership Award for Industrial Investments in CEMAC, recognizing years of commitment to sub-regional industrial development. Additionally, its Chairman and CEO, Hayssam El Jammal, was honored with the Leadership Award for Industry in Cameroon, acknowledging his visionary leadership and his dedication to making Prometal a pillar of both the Cameroonian and African economies.
Since its creation in 2010, Prometal has followed a bold industrial trajectory, guided by a strategic vision: turning Cameroon into a major industrial hub for Central Africa. The group now operates five major industrial sites, covering over 320,000 square meters, with a significant positive impact on local employment. Prometal’s operations have created nearly 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. Each new facility not only strengthens Cameroon’s economy but also helps to reduce its dependency on imported steel products.
Over 180 Billion FCFA Invested to Build a Robust Steel Industry
With investments exceeding 180 billion FCFA since its inception, Prometal has built a solid foundation for Cameroon’s metallurgical industry. This industrial backbone positions Prometal as the undisputed leader in Central Africa’s steel sector.
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State of the art steel production facilities 500,000 tons per year electric steel plant: helping to reduce reliance on imported raw materials, 480,000 ons per year rolling mill for rebar: producing nearly twice the national demand, which is estimated at 260,000 tons, 80,000 tons per year of wire rods and 600,000 gas cylinders per year produced through its subsidiary Progaz.
Made in CEMAC: building a regional industrial identity
Hayssam El Jammal champions a bold regional ambition: to establish a strong “Made in CEMAC” label, promoting locally produced industrial goods across the African continent. This strategic vision aligns perfectly with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Prometal is also leading the way in green industrial innovation, having commissioned Cameroon’s very first biomass boiler, reducing the carbon footprint of its operations.
88 Billion FCFA to launch Cameroon’s first fully integrated aluminum industry
In August 2024, Prometal made headlines with the signing of an agreement with the Cameroonian government to create Proalu, its aluminum processing subsidiary. With an 88 billion FCFA investment, this facility located in Douala-Bassa is expected to produce 60,000 tons of processed aluminum annually. At the heart of this project is a transformative vision: to build a fully integrated aluminum industry, from bauxite to alumina to finished aluminum, ensuring Cameroon’s natural resources are processed domestically. This approach fully supports national efforts to promote local processing, drive employment, foster technological innovation, and enhance external trade.
Prometal: driving industrial growth and economic influence
To support these ambitious goals, Prometal increased its capital to 25 billion FCFA (+25%), a move endorsed by its shareholders during the general assembly held on June 18, 2024. This increase reflects Prometal’s financial strength and strategic determination to play a leading role in regional industrialization. Prometal’s economic significance has also been recognized by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC), granting it privileged access to credit beyond standard regulatory limits, underscoring its critical importance in the sub-regional economy.
AfCFTA: unlocking a $450 billion opportunity for African industry
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Prometal is well-positioned for the future. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that AfCFTA could generate up to $450 billion in additional revenue by 2035, while increasing intra-African trade by over 52%. Prometal stands ready to play a leading role in this new African industrial era, offering competitive products supported by world-class facilities.
The goal is clear: establish Cameroon as the beating heart of African metallurgy. With unmatched production capacity, green innovation, bold investments, and a growing regional footprint, Prometal is turning that ambition into reality.
