Gabon to boost manganese processing with eramet’s 700,000-tonne target by 2031

Gabon is poised for a major leap in its extractive industry as Eramet, through its subsidiary Eramet Comilog, commits to significantly expanding local manganese processing. A landmark agreement signed in Paris with Gabonese authorities sets a bold target: processing 700,000 tonnes of manganese annually on Gabonese soil by 2031. The signing ceremony, held at the Élysée Palace, brought together Gabon’s transitional president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, and top executives from the French mining giant, underscoring the high-level nature of the negotiations.

Industrial commitment forged amid years of pressure

Since the military-led transition in August 2023, Gabonese officials have relentlessly pushed for greater domestic processing of mineral resources. Despite being the world’s second-largest manganese producer, Gabon has historically exported most of its output as raw ore, allowing other countries to capture the added value. The Paris agreement marks a pivotal shift in policy, though it remains a non-binding framework for now.

For Eramet, which has operated in Gabon for over six decades through Comilog, the pledge aligns with long-standing demands from Libreville. The French mining group, listed on the CAC 40, derives substantial revenue from its Moanda operations in the Haut-Ogooué province. Achieving the 700,000-tonne target will require scaling up existing metallurgical units and developing new industrial infrastructure to handle the increased volume.

Mining sovereignty drives Gabon’s economic strategy

Gabon’s transitional leadership has made reclaiming mineral value addition a cornerstone of its economic policy. Manganese, a critical mineral for global steelmaking and increasingly vital for lithium-ion batteries, sits at the heart of this vision. Local processing promises higher fiscal revenues, skilled job creation, and positioning Gabon in higher-value market segments.

The 2031 timeline provides Eramet with flexibility to phase its investments, but it also imposes a clear political deadline. The Transition is determined to deliver tangible results before the decade’s end. The next steps will involve converting the agreement into firm financial commitments, feasibility studies, and investment decisions—none of which have been disclosed yet.

The signing coincides with a diplomatic thaw between Libreville and Paris. President Oligui Nguema’s visit to France, where he was received at the Élysée, also aimed to strengthen bilateral ties, one year after gradual normalization post-coup. The Gabonese leader’s presence at the ceremony elevated the protocol’s significance beyond mere industrial terms.

A precedent for Gabon’s local content strategy

Beyond Eramet, this agreement sets a template for future negotiations with other mining operators in Gabon. Authorities may leverage this model to renegotiate terms for other resources, from iron to rare earths. The ability to enforce the 2031 timeline will serve as a litmus test for Gabon’s broader mining sovereignty doctrine.

For Eramet, the upside could include securing long-term operational permits and stabilizing its African footprint. The group, currently facing challenges in Argentina and Indonesia, stands to benefit from a more predictable business environment in Gabon. Local manganese processing could also enhance the group’s ESG credentials, appealing to European investors increasingly focused on sustainability.

A critical challenge remains energy supply. Processing 700,000 tonnes of manganese demands substantial electricity, a sector where Gabon still grapples with infrastructure gaps. The industrial roadmap must align with an energy strategy to avoid the 2031 target becoming an unmet promise.