Here are Some important points to consider when gauging the SDL...

Here are Some important points to consider when gauging the SDL project timeline:

- look at the portfolio of Cameroon projects, where the estimated financial closing is within the period 2010/2011. This could give some hints as to when those projects could go life/production.
- Identify whether those are major Cameroon projects (big investments, creation of jobs, etc..)
- Identify whether those projects are linked to Mbalam project (port, road, airport, hydroelectric, housing, new explorers in regions, etc..)

For that, let's start to have a quick look on the Portfolio of Major Cameroon Projects (also see Westcott's posts in this forum)

(Source GICAM, Douala 16/12/2009)

- Project Limbe Cement (AFKO)
- Project operating diamond Mobilong (Korea C&C Mining, Koko Enterprise)
- Project Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese of Nkamouna (Geovic Mining)
- Project Oil Yard at Limbe (Cameroon)
- Extension Project of the Edea smelter (Rio Tinto Alcan)
- Proposed hydroelectric Lom Pangar (Cameroon)
- Project operating iron ore Mbalam (Sundance Resources)
- Proposed deepwater port of Kribi (Cameroon & Private Partners)
- Thermal Power Project Kribi gas (AES Corp.)
- Project expansion and modernisation of the oil refinery in Limbe (Total)
- The proposed construction of a plant to liquefy natural gas at Kribi (GDF Suez)
- Construction Project 2nd Bridge Wouri in Douala (Cameroon)
- Project of Deepwater port of Limbe (Cameroon & Private Partners)
- Construction of the Yaounde-Douala highway (Cameroon & Private Partners)

Countries invested in Cameroon projects (as per above)
- Australia: Sundance Resources
- US: Hydromines
- UK (+Aussie?..): Rio Tinto Alcan
- The United Arab Emirates's Dubai : DUBAL
- India: Hindalco Industries
- France: Total, GDF Suez, Bollor Group
- Korea: Korea C&C Mining
- (?): AES Corp, Angelkique, SCDP, Petredec, Camship, Vinci, SOGEA, SATOM Boskalis, AFKO, Koko Enterprise



Following is the list of Cameroon Projects in or close to the execution phase, with estimated financial closing in 2010/2011 (Source GICAM, Douala 16/12/2009):

The financial closing means those projects are about to start construction soon after this period. It also give indication that investments will start flowing in Cameroon Economy from that period (2010/2011).

1. Project Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese of Nkamouna (Geovic Mining)
2. Draft Oil Yard Limbe (Cameroon)
3. Extension Project of the Edea smelter (Rio Tinto Alcan)
4. Proposed hydroelectric Lom Pangar (Cameroon)
5. Project operating iron ore Mbalam (Sundance Resources)
6. Proposed deepwater port of Kribi (Cameroon & Private Partners)
7. Thermal Power Project Kribi gas (AES Corp.)
8. Project expansion and modernisation of the oil refinery in Limbe (Total)
9. The proposed construction of a plant to liquefy natural gas at Kribi (GDF Suez)
10.Construction Project 2nd Bridge Wouri in Douala (Cameroon)



Some of the Cameroon projects that I know with a start-up planned for 2013 (Production / going life)

- Iron Ore Mbalam Project (Sundance Resources): Project costs $3.3 Billions
- Bauxite mining and refinery project at Ngaoundal and Minim-Martap (Dubai Aluminium, Hindalco Industries, Hydromine):
Project costs: 5 to 6 Billions
- Construction program of 10,000 housing (Cameroon)
- Deep Water Port of Kribi (start in 2010 and ready by 2013)
With the following selected operators for developing the Multi-User Port Kribi
Cam Iron SA : iron ore terminal
Rio Tinto Alcan : aluminium terminal
Bollor Group : container terminal
Angelkique / SCDP : hydrocarbons terminal
Petredec / Camship : civil works, infrastructure and utilities
Vinci / SOGEA
/ SATOM Boskalis


Recall that Sundances Iron Ore Port (and also Rail) to become a potential major shipping hub servicing iron ore projects. The port is

expected to service neighbouring Congo and Gabon:
- Mbalam
- Nkout (African Aura)
- Belinga
- Avima and Badondo
- Boka-Boka and Batouala ...

Also refer to Westcott's posts in this forum for other projects..and the list is growing as the potential of new iron ore explorers will be

coming in the region, and by the times, IMO SDL will become the new FMG in the region


To conclude, following is an interesting piece of info (Source GICAM), regarding contents (an extract) of Framework Agreement between

Sundance Resources and the Cameroon Gov:

Provision of Article 7 "Supplies of goods and services" of the Framework Agreement signed December 18, 2008 between the State of Cameroon and Cam Iron SA:
(Translated from French, source: GICAM - 16 December 2009)

Structuring projects and development of subcontracting

Project operating iron ore Mbalam

Provision of Article 7 "Supplies of goods and services" of the Framework Agreement signed December 18, 2008 between the State of Cameroon and Cam Iron SA:

"7.1 Cam Iron, its subsidiaries, its contractors and subcontractors will be free to choose and obtain from all suppliers goods and services needed to conduct their business, regardless of their nationality.

7.2 Cam Iron encourage and provide with the Cameroon citizens the opportunity to create their work and / or provide any other way in Cam Iron goods manufactured locally and local services.

Provided Cam Iron does not disadvantage commercially and where the skills, standards performance, quality and timeliness are comparable to those can be achieved internationally for goods or services required, Cam Iron is committed to give priority to businesses Cameroon, contractors and local subcontractors.

7.3 Cam Iron recognizes and supports the efforts of the State to modernise domestic enterprises to achieve the objectives the state as outlined in paragraph H of the preamble above. "

--------

Note that the terms and conditions are very similar for the other 2 projects in the list: Alucam (RIO Tinto Alcan), and Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese of Nkamouna (Geovic Mining)

Some diagrams ....

Extension Project of ALUCAM (RIO Tinto Alcan)



Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese project (Geovic Mining)



Mbalam Project (SDL)



For more information, I suggest that you read (or re-read) Westscott's posts, which is a very good place to start with.

Go SDL

Cheers - BS