Kobé-Kobé deepwater port: Gabon’s bold bet to move beyond oil

With the launch of works on the future Kobé-Kobé deepwater port, Gabon has set in motion one of the most ambitious structural projects in its recent history. Anchored to the Belinga iron ore deposit, a new railway line and the planned Booué hydroelectric dam, this industrial and logistics complex embodies the government’s determination to build an economy less reliant on oil and more focused on local processing of natural resources.

An integrated project at the heart of economic transformation

Long dependent on oil revenues, Gabon is now seeking to diversify its growth engines. Within this strategy, the Kobé-Kobé project stands as a cornerstone of the new economic model envisioned by the authorities. More than just a port, it is a vast industrial ecosystem designed to connect the country’s mining resources to international markets while maximising local benefits.

Located on the Atlantic coast, in the Estuaire province, the future deepwater port will have a draft of between 14 and 16 metres, allowing it to accommodate very large vessels. This feature should significantly boost Gabon’s logistics competitiveness amid increasing competition among Central African port infrastructures.

Kobé-Kobé is part of a complete value chain built around several strategic infrastructures. At the centre stands the Belinga iron ore deposit, considered one of the largest still unexploited in the world. To transport the ore to the coast, a new railway line will connect the interior to the future port. Added to this is the Booué hydroelectric dam project, which will supply the energy needed to run the mining and industrial complex. This integrated approach aims to avoid the traditional model of raw material export by promoting local processing.

The strategic agreement signed in April 2026 between the Gabonese state and Africa Global Logistics (AGL) marks a decisive step towards realising the project. The stated goal is to create a reference logistics platform capable of supporting the country’s industrialisation.

Up to 160,000 jobs expected

Beyond infrastructure, one of the main stakes is the social and economic impact. According to estimates, the complex could generate up to 160,000 direct and indirect jobs during its development. This prospect sends a strong signal to Gabonese youth facing employment challenges. Needs will span construction, logistics, industry, rail transport, energy and maintenance sectors.

For the authorities, the aim is to create a genuine ripple effect across the entire national economic fabric by fostering the emergence of local companies capable of participating in the subcontracting chain.

Materialising an ambition of economic sovereignty

Beyond its economic dimension, Kobé-Kobé also carries strong symbolic weight. The project reflects President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s will to build an economy based more on the valorisation of national resources and control over strategic infrastructure. In a context where economic sovereignty is a major issue for African states, the future mining, energy, railway and port complex appears as one of the most concrete illustrations of this ambition. If announced deadlines are met, Kobé-Kobé could, by 2030, become one of the main symbols of Gabon’s economic transformation and its entry into the post-oil era.