The Gabonese government has announced plans to acquire a stake in French mining company Eramet, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national control over the country’s natural resources sector. The move follows discussions held during the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, where officials from Gabon and the mining giant reportedly reached an agreement on the proposed investment. While the government said “firm commitments” had been made, it did not disclose the size of the intended stake or the financial terms involved. Gabon currently owns a 29 percent share in Compagnie Minière de l’Ogooué (Comilog), Eramet’s subsidiary that operates the manganese mine in Moanda, eastern Gabon. The Moanda site is recognized as the world’s largest manganese mine and plays a key role in the global supply chain for steel production and electric vehicle batteries.
In response, Eramet confirmed that it had taken note of Libreville’s intention to participate in the company’s planned €500 million capital increase. The company added that its management would present the proposal to shareholders during a meeting scheduled for May 27. The development aligns with President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s policy direction aimed at increasing local ownership and value addition in Gabon’s extractive industries. Last year, the government announced a ban on the export of unprocessed manganese beginning in 2029, a move designed to encourage domestic refining and industrialization. Global demand for manganese has continued to rise due to its growing use in battery technology and infrastructure manufacturing, placing Gabon among strategically important suppliers of the mineral.
