Gabon’s Manganese Sector Set for Expansion with Eramet’s Investment Agreement Libreville, Gabon – French mining giant Eramet is poised to significantly expand manganese processing in Gabon, a move that could bolster the country’s industrial base and reduce its reliance on unprocessed ore exports. During Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s state visit to France, the government and Eramet inked a memorandum of understanding to explore investments that could see up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore processed locally by 2031.
The agreement, a cornerstone of Gabon’s industrial strategy, is designed to modernize the nation’s railway network, which is crucial for transporting manganese from mining centers to ports. It is part of a broader push by Gabon to retain more value from its mineral wealth, shifting from raw material exports to local industrial processing. Under the deal, Eramet is considering three industrial projects, each with its own feasibility study.
The most ambitious involves constructing a new manganese alloy plant near the Atlantic coast, capable of producing 265,000 tonnes of manganese alloys annually, requiring the processing of around 530,000 tonnes of ore. This strategic partnership with Eramet is not only expected to stimulate industrial activity and employment but also to deepen Eramet’s role in Gabon’s economy, where it already operates through Comilog, a leading manganese ore producer.
The investment is part of a larger economic focus by Gabon, as it seeks international investment and a larger share of value from its natural resources.
However, concerns remain about the environmental and social impacts of the manganese processing expansion. Questions are being raised about the funding and management of the railway network modernization and the long-term sustainability of the project.
As Gabon and France deepen their industrial cooperation, the future of manganese processing in Gabon is set to be a significant topic of interest, potentially setting a precedent for other African countries looking to diversify their economies through local resource processing.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: rfi
Source: RFI
