en.Wedoany.com Reported - French mining group Eramet and its subsidiary Eramet Comilog have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Gabon to study ways to increase local manganese ore processing. The memorandum plans to evaluate industrial solutions for achieving up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore processing annually in Gabon, with a target deadline of the end of 2031.
The agreement was signed in Paris, in the presence of Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and French President Emmanuel Macron. The memorandum outlines a roadmap for the study of three industrial projects. The first option involves building a manganese oxide plant in the Libreville region with an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year. If the project goes ahead, the facility would process approximately 20,000 tonnes of ore, with products used in the battery and steel industries. It could potentially start production as early as 2028, pending an investment decision and validation from all parties; additional production units would also be considered if demand arises.
The second option focuses on upgrading the existing Moanda Metallurgical Complex, where Eramet Comilog already processes some ore. The renovation plan for this site aims to improve profitability and potentially increase manganese alloy production to 70,000 tonnes per year, using 150,000 tonnes of ore, with a target of restarting production in 2029. The third proposed option includes building a new manganese alloy plant near the coast, with a capacity of up to 265,000 tonnes per year, requiring approximately 530,000 tonnes of ore; this investment would require a separate investment agreement and guarantees for energy and logistics infrastructure, and could potentially start as early as 2031.
The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework for monitoring and verifying project conditions, particularly the supply of competitive energy, which Gabon has committed to supporting. Christel Bories, Chairman and CEO of Eramet, stated that the memorandum concretely embodies the group's commitment to jointly develop Gabon's industrial sector with the Gabonese government, and that teams are already working to identify the best industrial solutions and support Gabon's sovereign ambition to increase the local processing level of its manganese resources.
