Gabon’s mining sector is poised for a historic shift as French industrial giant Eramet commits to significantly boosting local manganese processing. Under a landmark agreement signed in Paris, Eramet and its subsidiary Comilog have pledged to ramp up onshore transformation capacity to 700,000 tonnes annually by 2031. The signing ceremony, held at the Élysée Palace, brought together Gabon’s transitional leader Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and top executives of the French conglomerate, underscoring the high-level nature of the negotiations.
Industrial commitment forged amid years of pressure
Since the military takeover in August 2023, Gabonese authorities have relentlessly pushed for deeper domestic processing of mineral resources. Despite being the world’s second-largest manganese producer, Gabon has historically shipped nearly all its output in raw form, allowing foreign industries to capture the lion’s share of added value. The Paris protocol marks a decisive policy shift, though it remains a non-binding framework at this stage.
For Eramet, which has operated in Gabon for over six decades through Comilog, the pledge reflects a long-overdue alignment with Libreville’s expectations. The Paris-based mining group, listed on the CAC 40 index, derives substantial earnings from its Moanda operations in the Haut-Ogooué region. To meet the 2031 target, expansion of existing metallurgical units and development of new industrial facilities will be essential to handle the increased volume.
Mining sovereignty drives Gabon’s economic vision
President Oligui Nguema has placed the recovery of mining value-added at the heart of his economic policy. Manganese, a critical input for global steelmaking and increasingly vital for lithium-ion batteries, sits at the core of this strategy. Processing ore locally promises higher tax revenues, skilled employment opportunities, and entry into higher-value market segments.
The 2031 timeline provides Eramet with a strategic window to phase investments, yet it also sets a clear political deadline: the Transition government expects tangible results before decade’s end. The protocol’s next hurdle will be translating pledges into concrete financial commitments, feasibility studies, and investment decisions—none of which have been disclosed publicly.
The signing occurred against a backdrop of warming Gabon-France relations. During his Paris visit, President Oligui Nguema reinforced bilateral ties, marking one year since the gradual normalization of post-coup diplomatic relations. His presence at the ceremony elevated the protocol’s significance beyond industrial terms, embedding it in broader geopolitical context.
A benchmark for Gabon’s local content strategy
Beyond Eramet, this agreement sets a precedent likely to influence future negotiations with other mining operators in Gabon. Authorities may leverage the model to renegotiate terms for other resources, from iron ore to rare earths. The government’s ability to enforce the 2031 timeline will serve as a litmus test for its broader mining sovereignty doctrine.
For Eramet, the deal offers potential stability for its Gabonese operations amid challenges elsewhere, including assets in Argentina and Indonesia. Local manganese processing could also enhance the group’s carbon footprint, appealing to European investors increasingly prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.
A critical variable remains energy supply. Processing 700,000 tonnes of ore demands substantial electricity, yet Gabon’s infrastructure gaps persist. The industrial roadmap must integrate a robust energy strategy to avoid the 2031 milestone becoming an empty promise.
