CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC · MINING

Bangui. The government signed a mining accord and granted five uranium licences.

A Nigerian group has signed a mining agreement in Bangui days before reports that a Canadian firm won five exploration licences, including ground with uranium. One of the world’s least-covered mining frontiers is getting attention.

The Central African Republic has signed a memorandum of understanding with Montage Afrique, a Nigerian mining group, to begin mining activities in the country. Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou attended the signing in Bangui. Days later, Africa Intelligence reported that Canada’s CVMR Corporation has won five exploration licences covering about 2,500 square kilometres, including ground prospective for uranium.

Two doors opening at once

The Montage Afrique agreement was signed in Bangui with the Minister of Mines and Geology, Rufin Benam Beltoungou, in attendance, Leadership reports. The Nigerian group, which presents itself as an African mining investment vehicle, says it is set to commence mining activities in the country. Details of the minerals targeted, the sites and the investment size were not disclosed in the announcement.

The second development is quieter but potentially larger. Africa Intelligence reported on 18 September that CVMR Corporation, a Canadian firm specialising in nickel refining technology, has secured five sought-after exploration licences in CAR covering about 2,500 square kilometres. Part of the licensed ground lies around Bakouma in the east — an area known for uranium, where France’s Orano has retained interests for years without developing them. CVMR’s plans for the licences have not been detailed publicly.

Why CAR, and why now

The Central African Republic sits on significant deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium and iron ore, yet industrial mining has barely begun. Decades of instability, almost no roads or power, and a contested security environment have kept large miners away. The state earns most of its income from aid, forestry and artisanal gold and diamonds. Bangui has been actively courting new investors as it tries to diversify, and Russian-linked operators have shown how quickly licence areas can change hands in this market.

The timing matters. An IMF-backed programme and African Development Bank support have nudged the economy toward modest growth, and the AfDB projects expansion continuing this year. The government is keen to convert geological promise into budget revenue before donor patience thins.

What this means for investors and expats

For mining investors, CAR is the definition of frontier: high geological upside, extreme logistical and political risk, and a licence registry that rewards diligence. The CVMR awards signal that Bangui is willing to allocate serious ground to newcomers. For the small expat community — aid agencies, UN staff, traders — new mining ventures would slowly change the economy outside the capital, but nothing in these announcements moves daily life in Bangui yet.

What Is Not Known

The financial terms of the Montage Afrique MoU, the minerals covered and any timeline to production are undisclosed. For CVMR, the exact licence locations beyond the Bakouma reference, the work commitments attached and the company’s financing are not public. Whether either project survives contact with CAR’s infrastructure and security reality is the standing unknown of every mining announcement in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions