Africa-Press. France and Gabon have reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the manganese sector during talks between Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, July 20, at the start of the Gabonese president’s official visit to France.
The discussions focused on following up on agreements made between the two countries in Libreville in November 2025, as well as discussing several new agreements intended for signing, primarily the memorandum of understanding concerning the development of the manganese sector, which received preliminary approval from both sides.
The CEO of the company operating the Transgabon Railway, Christian Magny, stated that signing the memorandum of understanding represents a crucial step for Gabon, noting that it opens the door for new investments from the French mining group Eramet aimed at increasing manganese processing capacities within the country.
Magny explained that these investments will contribute to enhancing the security and modernization of the Transgabon Railway network, supporting mineral transport and strengthening the logistical infrastructure in the country.
Under the memorandum of understanding, the Eramet group intends to implement a joint industrial plan targeting the processing of up to 700,000 tons of manganese by 2031, while the Gabonese government commits to providing the necessary conditions to ensure the economic viability of the projects, primarily by supplying the required energy sources for their operation.
The memorandum includes three main scenarios for project implementation. The first scenario involves establishing a plant for the production of manganese oxide in the capital, Libreville, by 2028, while the second scenario entails upgrading the Moanda mineral complex, which is the only active facility for processing manganese ores in Gabon and Central Africa.
The third scenario, which is the most ambitious, involves creating a new plant for the production of manganese spikes by 2031, enhancing the added value of the mining industry within the country and reducing reliance on exporting unprocessed ore.
The agreement also allows Gabon to launch a project to renew approximately 650 kilometers of roads extending between the Owindo port on the Atlantic coast and the city of Franceville in the east of the country, which is expected to improve manganese transport, enhance connectivity between production areas and ports, and support economic development.
Gabon is one of the largest manganese-producing countries in the world and aims to implement a strategy to stop exporting raw materials by 2029, focusing on developing local processing operations and increasing the added value of national production.
This step is part of the priorities of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who is pushing for the expansion of local manufacturing in the mining sector, a vision that began to be discussed following French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Gabon in November 2025.
Although Paris has conceptually agreed to support this direction, the French side is demanding greater flexibility in implementing the project timeline, considering that the deadlines set by Libreville for executing its industrial plan represent a significant challenge that requires careful study to ensure the success of investments and achieve their objectives.
