Central Africa’s iron ore gets $6 billion railway boost from A&S Resources

A&S Resources Limited has secured $6 billion in funding for a railway designed to connect its iron ore assets in the Central African Republic to international markets through Cameroon, potentially opening a major new export corridor for Central Africa’s mining industry.

Railway to link CAR mines with Port of Kribi

The UK-based mining development company, which focuses on strategic mineral resources in Central Africa, is advancing plans for an approximately 1,350-kilometre railway linking its projects in landlocked CAR to the deep-water Port of Kribi in Cameroon.

The financing follows strategic agreements announced earlier this year covering mine development, railway construction, export logistics and long-term offtake arrangements. Topographical and technical studies have begun, with operational mobilisation scheduled for the end of 2026.

The railway is expected to be financed by the Export-Import Bank of India and developed with China Railway Sixth Group Co., a subsidiary of China Railway Group. CRSG has delivered more than 6,200 kilometres of railway projects across Africa.

Designed as a heavy-haul, dual-track system, the railway is expected to initially handle 250,000 tonnes of cargo a day, with capacity scalable to 300,000 tonnes.

A&S Resources targets major iron ore deposits

A&S Resources controls two key properties in CAR — the Bakala/Topa Project and the Bogoin Property. The company says the assets contain more than 20 billion tonnes of high-grade iron ore resources at 64.5% or higher iron content, potentially placing them among the world’s largest iron ore deposits.

Beyond iron ore, A&S Resources’ regional portfolio includes critical minerals, rare earth elements, copper and other strategic resources, giving the company exposure to a broader range of commodities important to global supply chains.

Infrastructure could reshape regional trade

For A&S Resources, the railway is central to unlocking its mineral assets. For CAR, it could help address one of the country’s biggest constraints to large-scale mining: limited access to international export markets.

The corridor could also create opportunities for jobs, skills development, investment and trade in CAR and Cameroon, while supporting industrial and agricultural activity along the route.

If delivered as planned, the railway would give Central Africa a major new piece of mining infrastructure while providing A&S Resources with a direct route from its iron ore projects to global markets.