Mbalam mine
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  Mbalam iron ore deposit | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | outside Mbalam |
| Region | East Region |
| Country | Cameroon |
| Coordinates | 2°13′N 13°53′E / 2.22°N 13.89°E |
| Production | |
| Products | Iron ore |
| Owner | |
| Company | Disputed |
The Mbalam mine refers to a series of ongoing attempts to mine iron ore from the Mbalam iron ore deposit in Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo.[1]
The Mbalam deposit is located primarily in south-east Cameroon in the East Region, along its southern border with the Republic of the Congo.[1] It also extends into the Congo, where it connects to the Nabeba and Ibanga deposits.[2] The deposit is variously estimated to contain 2.5 billion tonnes (2.5 trillion kg; 5.5 trillion lb) of ore at 40% iron composition,[3] or 800 million tonnes (800 billion kg; 1.8 trillion lb) with 62% iron composition.[4] The deposit was initially identified by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the 1970s and 1980s.[1] Mining proposals in the 2010s aimed for 35-40 million tonnes of annual production from the deposit.[2]: 1 [5]