Eramet and Gabon Plan to Process 700,000 Tonnes of Manganese

The French mining group Eramet and the government of Gabon signed a memorandum of understanding on July 21, 2026, to expand manganese ore processing within Gabon. The agreement, signed during President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's state visit to France, establishes a roadmap to process up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore annually by the end of 2031. This initiative supports Gabon's strategic goal to halt the export of unprocessed manganese ore by 2029.

Eramet and its subsidiary, Eramet Comilog, are evaluating three investment options: a manganese oxide plant in the Libreville region, a modernized metallurgical complex in Moanda, or a new manganese alloy plant on the Atlantic coast. In return, Gabon has committed to ensuring economic viability, specifically through reliable energy access. The partnership also includes plans to develop a local biochar production sector and the launch of a "Made in Gabon" seed fund intended to create 3,000 industrial jobs.

Parallel to these industrial goals, the railway operator Setrag secured a €312 million financing agreement with Proparco and the International Finance Corporation. These funds will be used to modernize the Transgabonais railway, the critical transport link moving ore from the mining center in Moanda to the port of Owendo.