The ceremony marked the official signing of financing agreements and the laying of the foundation stone for PROALU. PROMETAL GROUPE, led by CEO Hayssam El Jammal, is the lead investor and promoter of this CFAF 88 billion project. The project is funded by a banking consortium comprising BGFIBank (15.550 billion CFA francs), Societe Generale (15 billion CFA francs), Proparco (15 billion CFA francs), a financing institution, and Afriland First Bank (8.90 billion CFA francs).
Proalu fully aligns with the government’s policy of locally transforming our raw materials. In the long term, this industrial complex will produce 60,000 tons of aluminum coils, thereby reducing our dependence on imports,
said Hayssam El Jammal, CEO of Prometal Groupe, in his speech.PROALU has contracted 15 MW of electrical power and anticipates consuming 800,000 cubic meters of gas annually.
Technical profile and output mix
The plant will feature multiple production lines tailored to the construction, building components, and electrical sectors. The aluminium coil line will produce both natural and pre-coated aluminium sheet coils, with a total capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year. The steel coil line will focus on galvanizing and pre-coating imported steel coils, also with an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes. In addition, PROALU will operate panel production facilities dedicated to composite panels for both industrial and construction applications. Finally, the plant will include cable lines capable of producing 8,000 tonnes per year of copper and aluminium electrical cables. This combination of outputs is designed to replace a wide range of imported intermediate wares currently used in Cameroon’s construction and infrastructure sectors, while also providing high-quality inputs for other domestic industries.
With Alucam as a supplier, this project is a strong example of how, under the supervision of the State of Cameroon, two national industrial leaders have united to carry out the vision of His Excellency Paul Biya. Together, we are building a sub-regional leader in aluminum transformation. At Prometal Group, we are proud of the impact of this partnership on our national economy, on employment, and on the energy sector, and we once again salute the unwavering support of the State that made this possible,
adds the CEO of Prometal Groupe.Economic and social spillovers
The economic and social benefits projected by PROMETAL Groupe and its partners are substantial. The project is expected to generate 450 direct jobs and more than 1,000 indirect jobs, creating a major employment multiplier effect within the Douala industrial zone. In terms of trade balance, PROALU will reduce Cameroon’s dependency on imported metal products, placing downward pressure on the country’s trade deficit.
As a pan-African financial institution, Afriland First Bank is proud to support Prometal in this structuring project. Proalu is not only a driver of industrial growth for Cameroon, but also an opportunity to strengthen the local value chain and foster job creation,
said Martial TCHAKOUNTE, Director of Banking Services.At the same time, the local processing of aluminium and steel will enable Cameroon to capture value that was previously lost through the export of raw or semi-finished materials. Supply security will also improve significantly, with PROALU emerging as a major long-term buyer for ALUCAM and contributing to the stabilization of the aluminium supply chain across the Central African sub-region. Moreover, the introduction of modern processing lines is expected to upgrade local technical competencies through skills and technology transfer.
From a social standpoint, PROPARCO has emphasized that the project will offer salaries above local standards and will include medical coverage for employees, underscoring the commitment to social protection alongside industrial growth.
The laying of the foundation stone of PROALU demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting the industrialisation of our country. This strategic project will help reduce our dependence on imports, and with PROALU, we are reinforcing our vision of making Cameroon a regional industrial hub. This public-private partnership illustrates how the government and national industrialists can work together to create local value and drive sustainable economic development,
attests the Prime Minister.PROMETAL GROUPE industrial heft and credibility
PROMETAL GROUPE, led by CEO Hayssam El Jammal, has already established a strong industrial presence in Cameroon. The group has invested more than CFAF 200 billion across its companies and employs over 2,000 people through direct and subcontracted operations. PROMETAL Acierie alone has reported investments exceeding XAF 120 billion and employs around 1,500 workers across its sites.
This track record provides credibility and confidence in the group’s ability to execute PROALU. Hayssam El Jammal has presented PROALU as a key step in a long-term strategy to transform Cameroon’s raw-material endowment into industrial leadership at the sub-regional level. This vision aligns directly with the government’s SND30 objective to accelerate industrialisation on the path toward emergence.
The signing of financing agreements and the laying of the foundation stone marked the official start of the project. The next stages include construction, installation of equipment, commissioning, and progressive ramp-up to full capacity. Specific dates for each phase are expected to be announced jointly by PROMETAL Groupe and its financial partners.
