Eramet pledges 700 000 tonnes of Gabonese manganese processing by 2031

Gabon’s mining sector is poised for a historic leap forward as French industrial giant Eramet, through its subsidiary Eramet Comilog, has committed to a landmark agreement with Libreville’s authorities. The deal, signed in Paris, sets a clear path: elevating local manganese processing capacity to 700 000 tonnes annually by 2031. The high-profile ceremony at the Élysée Palace on July 20 brought together Gabon’s transitional president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, and top executives from the French conglomerate, underscoring the strategic importance of the negotiation.

From raw exports to local transformation: a paradigm shift in Gabon’s mining policy

For years, Gabon—home to the world’s second-largest manganese reserves—has shipped most of its output overseas in unprocessed form, allowing foreign industries to capture the added value. The recent protocol marks a decisive shift in government policy, though it remains non-binding at this stage. Since the military-led transition took power in August 2023, Libreville has repeatedly pressed for deeper domestic processing of mineral resources to retain more revenue and create high-skilled jobs.

Eramet, which has operated in Gabon for over six decades through Comilog’s Moanda mine in Haut-Ogooué Province, now faces heightened expectations to accelerate its industrial footprint. Achieving the 700 000-tonne target will require expanding existing metallurgical units and building new facilities capable of handling the increased volume—a challenge that demands significant capital and technical planning.

Manganese sovereignty: a cornerstone of Gabon’s economic transition

The Gabonese government has made reclaiming value from its mineral wealth a central pillar of its transitional economic agenda. Manganese, a critical input for global steel production and increasingly vital for lithium-ion batteries, sits at the heart of this strategy. Local processing promises higher fiscal returns, employment generation, and a foothold in higher-value industrial segments. The 2031 deadline, while flexible, serves as a political milestone, signaling that tangible progress must be delivered before the decade’s end.

Yet questions linger: will the protocol translate into binding financial pledges, feasibility studies, and concrete investment decisions? No total investment figure has been disclosed by the parties. Meanwhile, the agreement arrives amid strengthening Gabon-France diplomatic ties, as President Oligui Nguema’s Paris visit underscored a year after post-coup normalization efforts.

Setting a precedent for Gabon’s mining future

Beyond Eramet’s obligations, this deal could serve as a model for renegotiating terms with other mining operators in Gabon, from iron ore to rare earths. The government’s ability to enforce the 2031 timeline will test the credibility of its local content doctrine. For Eramet, the pledge may secure long-term operational stability in Gabon—a stabilizing move as the group grapples with turmoil in its Argentine and Indonesian assets.

Local processing could also bolster the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) profile, aligning with European investor scrutiny. However, a critical hurdle remains: energy. Processing 700 000 tonnes demands substantial electricity, a challenge in a country still grappling with infrastructure gaps. Without a coherent energy strategy, the 2031 target risks remaining aspirational.

Key considerations for Gabon’s mining roadmap

The accord’s success hinges on three pillars: firm financial commitments, robust feasibility studies, and an integrated energy plan. As Gabon charts its post-transition economic course, this agreement may well define whether the nation can transition from a resource exporter to a refined industrial player on the global stage.