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The Hayssam El Jammal Group, one of Central Africa’s industrial players led by Franco-Lebanese industrialist Hayssam El Jammal, is set to launch a $150 million project to develop an integrated metallurgical sector in Cameroon. The initiative aims to cut reliance on imported metals while supporting local industry and job creation.
The project, called ProAlu, will be located in Douala’s industrial zone. The group has secured €22 million ($25.9 million) in financing from Proparco, the private sector arm of the French Development Agency, with additional support from Afriland First Bank, Société Générale Cameroon, and BGFI. Hayssam El Jammal said the project reflects the group’s commitment to boosting Cameroon’s industrial capacity and regional economic growth.
Expanding domestic capacity
ProAlu will produce aluminum coils, pre-painted steel and electrical cables—products that remain in short supply locally. The facility is expected to create about 450 direct jobs with wages and benefits, while supporting thousands more through suppliers, contractors and logistics networks.
The investment comes as Cameroon’s steel consumption continues to climb. Per capita use rose 43 percent between 2019 and 2022 from 9 kilograms to 14 kilograms driven by housing projects and public works. By producing domestically, the new plant is expected to cut import costs and improve reliability for builders and manufacturers.
Mehdi Tanani, Proparco’s regional director for Central Africa, said the financing reflects confidence in Cameroon’s industrial outlook. “Facilitating the mobilization of private finance for such a project represents a strong opportunity for Proparco,” he said.
Backed by an established base
The facility will be developed by Prometal, the group’s flagship subsidiary, which already runs one of Central Africa’s most advanced steel plants and accounts for most of the company’s revenue. Prometal has signed a supply deal with Aluminium du Cameroun (ALUCAM) to make sure it always has what it needs to make things.
The project fits with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2020–2030, which puts industrialization and value-added manufacturing at the top of its list of goals. ProAlu is expected to help stop illegal imports and counterfeiting, which will raise quality standards in the construction industry.
Hayssam El Jammal Group’s wider industrial push
Founded by Franco-Lebanese businessman Hayssam El Jammal, Hayssam El Jammal Group has grown steadily since 2010 from a local steel trading business into one of Central Africa’s key industrial players. Through Prometal it has built multiple steel-processing plants in Douala, making it the largest private producer of long steel products in Cameroon.
Its latest venture, ProAlu, will focus on aluminum, prized for its recyclability and role in cleaner technologies. The company says the initiative aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, supporting decent work, industry, and infrastructure. It also reflects a growing effort in the region to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.
For El Jammal, the investment is more than an expansion of his business—it is a statement of commitment to Cameroon’s industrial future. If ProAlu succeeds, it could serve as a regional hub for aluminum and steel, helping the country capture more value from its natural resources while supporting long-term industrial development.
