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Gabon and France deepen industrial cooperation with Eramet manganese deal
During President Brice Oligui Nguema's state visit to France, Gabon and French mining group Eramet signed a memorandum of understanding to boost local manganese processing, targeting 700,000 tonnes per year by 2031. The agreement includes Gabon's commitment to provide energy and other conditions, while three industrial options are under feasibility study. The deal underscores Gabon's drive to retain more value from its mineral resources.
French mining group Eramet is considering a major expansion of manganese processing in Gabon under an agreement that could strengthen the country's industrial base, modernise its railway network and reduce its reliance on exports of unprocessed ore. The memorandum of understanding was signed during President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's state visit to France, as reported by both RFI and AllAfrica.
Coverage Comparison
Africa News reported that the state visit got off to a strong start with the signing of three strategic agreements, including the manganese memorandum. The outlet quoted President Oligui Nguema's office saying the deal would help "generate greater added value within the country, support its industrialisation and boost the competitiveness of the national economy." It also noted agreements covering security and the water and energy sectors.
AllAfrica and RFI both detailed the scope of the industrial roadmap, under which Eramet would examine investments allowing up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore to be processed locally each year by 2031. They portrayed the deal as central to Gabon's strategy to retain more of the value generated by its mineral wealth, given its position as one of the world's leading manganese producers.
Key Claims
Eramet has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gabonese government during the president's state visit to France, as reported by multiple relevant sources including Africa News, AllAfrica, and RFI.
The agreement sets out a joint industrial roadmap under which Eramet would examine investments allowing up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore to be processed locally each year by 2031, a figure cited consistently.
Gabon has undertaken to provide the conditions needed to make the projects economically viable, including reliable access to energy.
Three industrial options are being considered: building a manganese oxide production plant in the Libreville region with operations expected by end of 2028, modernising the metallurgical complex in Moana, and constructing a new manganese alloy plant near the Atlantic coast.
Libreville has indicated a desire to halt exports of unprocessed manganese ore by 2029, while France has called for greater flexibility on the timetable.
The memorandum is seen as an important step in Gabon's drive to retain more of the value from its mineral wealth and support its industrialization, a recurring clinical point.
Perspectives
Gabon's government: Characterizes the agreement as a means to "generate greater added value within the country, support its industrialisation and boost the competitiveness of the national economy," reflecting the state's ambition to process its manganese locally and reduce exports of raw ore.
France: Has publicly called for a more flexible approach to the timeline Gabon has set for halting unprocessed ore exports, viewing the current 2029 deadline as more particularly demanding.
Temporal Context
The memorandum was signed during a state visit that also reviewed progress on agreements reached during French President Macron's visit to Libre the previous November.
According to an Africa News report last updated shortly after the signing, further agreements involving manganese are expected later in the visit.
How each outlet told it
Africa News
Framing: Franco-Gabonese cooperation and economic development — Informative and slightly positive
Facts Included:
The President of Gabon's state visit to France got off to a strong start with the signing of three strategic agreements
The MOU lays out plans to process up to 700 kilotons a year of manganese ore in Gabon by the end of 2031
The agreement will help generate greater added value within the country, support its industrialisation and boost the competitiveness of the national economy
Framing: Economic development and industrialization — Informative and neutral
Facts Included:
Eramet is considering a major expansion of manganese processing in Gabon
The agreement sets out a joint industrial roadmap under which Eramet would examine investments allowing up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore to be processed locally each year by 2031
Gabon has undertaken to provide the conditions needed to make the projects economically viable, including reliable access to energy
Three industrial options are being considered, including building a manganese oxide production plant, modernising the metallurgical complex in Moanda, and constructing a new manganese alloy plant near the Atlantic coast
Framing: Economic development and industrialization — Informative and neutral
Facts Included:
Eramet is considering a major expansion of manganese processing in Gabon
The agreement sets out a joint industrial roadmap under which Eramet would examine investments allowing up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore to be processed locally each year by 2031
Three industrial options are being considered, including building a manganese oxide production plant, modernising the metallurgical complex in Moanda, and constructing a new manganese alloy plant near the Atlantic coast
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimEramet is considering a major expansion of manganese processing in Gabon under an agreement that could strengthen the country's industrial base, modernise its railway network and reduce its reliance on exports of unprocessed ore.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from AllAfricathe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimThe agreement sets out a joint industrial roadmap under which Eramet would examine investments allowing up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore to be processed locally each year by 2031.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from AllAfricathe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimGabon has undertaken to provide the conditions needed to make the projects economically viable, including reliable access to energy.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from AllAfricathe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimThree industrial options are being considered, including building a manganese oxide production plant, modernising the metallurgical complex in Moanda, and constructing a new manganese alloy plant near the Atlantic coast.
ConfidenceHigh
StatusMulti-source quoted from AllAfricathe outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimThe President of Gabon's state visit to France got off to a strong start with the signing of three strategic agreements.
ClaimThe agreement will help generate greater added value within the country, support its industrialisation and boost the competitiveness of the national economy.