Gabon’s Bold Move: Eramet Pledges to Safeguard Jobs Amid Manganese Export Ban

In a significant development, French mining group Eramet has committed to protecting over 10,000 jobs in Gabon as the country prepares to ban raw manganese exports from 2029. This move is part of a broader national strategy to industrialize Gabon’s economy and add more value to its abundant natural resources. President Brice Oligui Nguema, who took power following a 2023 coup, is driving this initiative to reshape Gabon’s economic model and reduce its reliance on raw material exports.

At the heart of this plan is the export ban on unprocessed manganese, a key ingredient in steelmaking and electric vehicle batteries. The ban, which will come into effect on January 1, 2029, aims to encourage local processing, upskill the workforce, and boost tax revenues. The government has given the mining sector three years to prepare for this transition, with plans to support the shift through a new public-private investment fund.

Eramet, the main shareholder in Comilog, Gabon’s leading manganese mining firm, has acknowledged the government’s decision and pledged to preserve the 10,460 local jobs sustained by Comilog and its transport arm, Setrag. The company will continue to engage with officials "in a spirit of constructive partnership and mutual respect." This commitment is crucial, as the mining sector is a significant contributor to Gabon’s economy, with manganese being one of the country’s top export earners alongside oil and timber.

This policy shift is part of a growing trend across Africa, with countries like Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania also moving to retain more value from their mineral wealth by restricting raw material exports and encouraging domestic refining and processing. Eramet, which operates the world’s largest manganese mine at Moanda, has already shown its willingness to adapt to similar transitions, having recently signed a memorandum of understanding to invest in local nickel processing in Indonesia after Jakarta banned raw nickel exports.

While the path ahead presents challenges, the potential benefits of this move are significant. Despite its natural wealth, around one-third of Gabon’s 2.3 million people live in poverty. By keeping more of the value chain within the country, the government hopes to create more jobs, stimulate economic growth, and improve living standards. As analysts note, the impact of the export restrictions will depend on how quickly Gabon and its partners can develop local processing capacity. However, with Eramet’s commitment to safeguarding jobs and investing in local processing, there are signs of optimism for the future of Gabon’s mining sector.