Chinese company's operations in Cameroon spark local discontent

A Chinese ceramics company, Keda Cameroon Ceramics, has caused frustration among local communities in southern Cameroon due to its environmental and social impact. The company’s quarry operations in the Afan-Oveng village near Kribi have left deep excavations and altered the landscape, with water-filled pits and overgrown areas replacing cultivated land and pathways.

Keda's ceramic production and resource extraction

Keda Ceramics extracted white clay from the Afan-Oveng quarry to produce tiles for the Cameroonian market. The site is now closed, but the excavations remain. Since 2023, Keda Cameroon Ceramics, a subsidiary of the Chinese Keda Industrial Group, has obtained permits to extract clay and feldspar in several locations in the Ocean department. These materials are processed at the Bipaga 1 plant, about thirty kilometers from Kribi.

Keda's ownership and global operations

Liang Tongcan, the main shareholder of Keda Industrial Group, owns 19.5% of the company, with an estimated fortune of $1.4 billion. Founded in 1992 in Foshan, Guangdong, the company has expanded internationally, especially in Africa, through Twyford International. In 2025, Keda generated nearly €2.65 billion in revenue worldwide, with significant production in Africa, including Cameroon.

Keda's partnerships with energy firms

The Chinese company has partnered with oil and gas firms to support its production. The National Hydrocarbons Company (SNH) and the Franco-British group Perenco supply gas to Keda’s Bipaga plant near Kribi. This collaboration forms a complete industrial chain, from gas production to delivery for tile manufacturing.

Environmental and community concerns in Mangouma

In Mangouma, where Keda extracts feldspar, residents report structural damage to homes due to blasting operations. An elderly resident filed a complaint with local authorities, citing cracks in her house walls. Similar environmental and safety concerns are reported in other areas where Keda operates.

Keda's legal permits and community commitments

Keda Cameroon Ceramics’ presence in Afan-Oveng is legal, based on permits obtained in 2023. An administrative commission highlighted environmental and cultural considerations, including a stream, crops, and burial sites. The company was required to create a participatory document outlining commitments to the community, such as road maintenance, compensation, and infrastructure improvements.

Unfulfilled promises and community grievances

Despite these commitments, local residents claim they were not informed about the document’s contents, and compensation has been a point of contention. The company offered 300,000 CFA (€457) for classroom renovations, which locals found insufficient. In Mangouma, residents report that only basic provisions like food and wine have been provided, with no substantial improvements.

Disputes over revenue and local governance

Villagers suspect local mayors of benefiting from the quarry operations at their expense. In Lolodorf, the mayor admits to collecting a tax on quarry transport, but in Nieté, the mayor denies receiving any money from Keda. These disputes highlight tensions over revenue distribution and local governance.

Keda's response to criticisms

Keda Cameroon Ceramics maintains it complies with Cameroonian laws and administrative guidelines. The company disputes community claims, stating it pays the state and local authorities as required. It also asserts that it has repaired damages from blasting and restricted access to the site to prevent accidents, claiming it will return to continue operations.

Environmental concerns and regulatory oversight

Residents accuse Keda of polluting water sources, with a local stream turning white. The company denies this, stating it recycles all water used in its plant. However, it refused to allow a visit to its recycling basins to investigate potential discharges. Environmental oversight in the region is managed by the departmental delegation, which acknowledges some shortcomings in Keda’s practices.

Keda's continued expansion in Cameroon

According to the Ministry of Mines, Keda has obtained additional quarrying permits in Cameroon, including in Mengong, Manjo, and Dizangué. These new permits indicate the company’s ongoing commitment to expanding its operations in the region.