Gabon secures €40m investment from Moroccan CIMAF for Owendo plant upgrade

In a landmark deal sealed on May 20, 2026, at the Palais Rénovation in Libreville, Anas Sefrioui, CEO of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), joined forces with Gabon’s transitional president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, to finalize a €40 million investment agreement. The funds will drive the modernization of the Owendo cement plant, including the addition of a third production line—a critical upgrade to meet the country’s surging demand for construction materials.

The agreement extends beyond industrial development, signaling a pivotal shift in the firm’s ownership structure. The Gabonese government has committed to increasing its stake in the local subsidiary to 20%, building on its initial 10% acquisition in December 2025. This strategic move grants Libreville direct oversight of operations, aligning with a broader economic policy adopted in August 2023. The doctrine prioritizes converting major foreign investments into joint ventures with national participation.

For CIMAF, this partnership aligns with a sweeping strategic pivot. The Moroccan conglomerate, led by Anas Sefrioui, is steadily scaling back its European operations, as evidenced by the concurrent sale of its final French cement plant. With European markets maturing and competition intensifying, the company is redirecting capital toward Africa, where urbanization and infrastructure needs—from roads and bridges to housing—remain vast and largely unmet.

This deal also reflects Morocco’s evolving economic footprint on the continent. While Moroccan firms have long dominated industries in West Africa, private sector giants are now expanding their influence into Central Africa’s industrial hubs. For Gabon, traditionally reliant on oil revenues, this public-private collaboration serves as a testbed for industrial diversification. It merges Moroccan private capital, Gabonese public oversight, and regional economic integration into a cohesive growth model.