Mbalam is a place in Cameroon near the southern border with the Republic of the Congo where there are significant deposits of iron ore.

A 510 km standard gauge railway connection to a deepwater port is required to exploit these ore deposits efficiently.

In September 2010, Sundance Resources signed a memorandum of understanding with CRCC China-Africa Construction Ltd, which outlined construction plans for a 490 km railway linking the planned iron ore mines to a proposed port near Kribi.

[2] Another Chinese company, China Harbour Engineering Co Ltd (CHEC), will build the port.

A two-stage development of a mine, railway and port for the cross-border iron ore deposits in Cameroon and Congo is estimated to cost US$7.7 billion.