After dipping to 9.1 million tonnes, Gabon’s manganese output has spotlighted critical gaps in the nation’s logistics network. Frequent breakdowns and bottlenecks along the Transgabonais railway, the main artery linking mines to Owendo port, disrupted operations for months. Yet the final quarter of 2025 delivered a decisive rebound in production.

The revival traces back to the restart of mining activities at Moanda and Franceville, where output climbed by 10.8% compared with the previous quarter, according to official figures from the Directorate General of the Economy and Fiscal Policy. Beyond extraction, the sector is gradually pivoting toward onshore processing.

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By July 2026, the Gabonese government and French multinational Eramet formalized a landmark agreement in Paris. The deal commits Eramet to processing up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore annually inside Gabon by the end of 2031. Three strategic pathways are under consideration: upgrading the existing metallurgical complex at Moanda, erecting new processing units near Owendo, or constructing a manganese oxide battery plant close to Libreville.

Addressing public skepticism, the Ministry of Industry clarified that the 700,000-tonne pledge applies exclusively to Eramet; other operators will also be required to contribute to the domestic transformation drive.

Eramet is also doubling down on sustainable energy solutions and biochar integration, reinforcing the industry’s preparations for the 2029 deadline barring raw ore exports.