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The Hayssam El Jammal Group Launches the ProAlu Industrial Complex in Cameroon with the Support of Proparco
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The Hayssam El Jammal Group, a leading player in the steel industry in Central Africa, is launching a new large-scale industrial project in Cameroon: the ProAlu complex. Supported by Proparco with 15 billion XAF (22 million euros), the project aims to develop an integrated metallurgical sector specialized in the processing of aluminum, pre-painted steel, and electrical cables, thereby strengthening the industrialization of Cameroon and the sub-region.
Cameroon shows positive growth prospects, with an expected average annual growth rate of over 4% for the period 2025-2027, driven by agriculture, construction, and energy infrastructure. In this context, local demand for steel and aluminum is rapidly increasing. The individuam consumption of raw steel in Cameroon rose by 43% between 2019 and 2022, from 9 kg to 14 kg per capita. However, the regional market still largely depends on imports, which are often subject to additional costs and variable quality. This is precisely where the ProAlu initiative comes in.
A Value-Creating Industrial Model
Funded to the tune of €140.3 million, 58% of which comes from lenders (Proparco, Afriland First Bank, Société Générale Cameroon and BGFI), the ProAlu project will enable the construction of a factory specialized in processing aluminum and pre-painted steel coils as well as electrical cables, segments that have been insufficiently developed locally until now.
It is supported by the Hayssam El Jammal Group, with its subsidiary Prometal, a leader in the steel industry (60% of the Group’s revenue), which benefits from recognized expertise and modern equipment, unique in Central Africa.
ProAlu will play a key role in the regional aluminum value chain by strengthening local production and reducing dependence on imports, in line with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2020-2030.
Mehdi Tanani, Regional Director for Central Africa at Proparco, stated: “We are very pleased to support the launch of the ProAlu project by the Hayssam El Jammal Group, alongside Afriland First Bank, Société Générale Cameroon, and BGFI. Facilitating the mobilization of private finance for such an exemplary sustainable heavy industry project represents a great opportunity for Proparco.”
For a Sustainable Heavy Industry
The project will contribute to the creation of 450 high-quality direct jobs, with salaries above local standards and medical coverage for employees. It will also help combat illegal imports and counterfeiting, thereby improving the quality of materials available for the construction sector, which is crucial for sustainable development and economic resilience.
As aluminum is 100% recyclable and a key component of low-carbon technologies, ProAlu is also aligned with a sustainable heavy industry approach, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 8 and 9).