Africa’s second-largest manganese producer is accelerating its push to move beyond raw mineral exports, compelling French mining giant Eramet to deepen its investment in local processing as the global race for critical minerals intensifies.
Africa’s second-largest manganese producer expands processing with Eramet ahead of export ban
- Gabon and Eramet will study projects to process up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese annually.
- The move comes before Gabon’s ban on raw manganese exports in 2029.
- One project targets battery-grade manganese for electric vehicles.
- The agreement reflects Africa’s wider push to capture more value from critical minerals.
Eramet on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gabonese government to develop new manganese processing facilities capable of treating up to 700,000 tonnes of ore annually by the end of 2031, marking one of the country’s biggest steps yet towards building a domestic value chain around one of its most valuable mineral re
The agreement, signed in Paris during Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s visit to France and witnessed by French President Emmanuel Macron, comes as Libreville prepares to prohibit exports of unprocessed manganese from January 2029, a policy designed to force greater industrialisation inside the country.
For Eramet, one of the world’s leading manganese producers through its Gabonese subsidiary Comilog, the deal represents more than compliance with a new government policy.
It is an early attempt to establish a foothold in the fast-growing market for battery materials while strengthening its long-standing position in steel production.
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A new phase for Gabon’s mining industry
For decades, Gabon has exported much of its manganese in raw form despite being one of the world’s largest producers. That is changing.
President Oligui Nguema’s administration has made local beneficiation a central pillar of its industrial strategy, joining a growing number of African governments seeking to earn more from their mineral wealth instead of exporting raw commodities.
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The latest agreement gives structure to that ambition. It outlines three industrial projects that would significantly expand processing inside Gabon while creating new downstream industries and employment opportunities.
The projects include a manganese oxide plant for batteries and specialty steels; the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing Moanda Metallurgical Complex; and a new manganese alloy plant targeting global steelmakers.
Combined, the facilities could process around 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore every year by 2031.
Today, Comilog already processes part of its production at the Moanda Industrial Complex and the Moanda Metallurgical Complex, but a significant share of the ore mined in Gabon continues to leave the country unprocessed.
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While steel remains the dominant consumer of manganese globally, Eramet is positioning itself for a market that is still relatively small but expected to expand rapidly over the next two decades.
One proposed plant would produce 10,000 tonnes of manganese oxide annually, with commissioning targeted before the end of 2028 if technical, environmental and commercial conditions are met and a final investment decision is approved.
Eramet operates one of the world’s largest manganese mining businesses through its Gabonese subsidiary Comilog.BI Africa
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If demand develops as expected, Eramet says additional plants producing 50,000 tonnes each could eventually follow with support from investment partners.
Battery-grade manganese currently represents only a small fraction of global manganese consumption, with steel accounting for almost 90% of demand.
However, demand is expected to rise steadily as electric vehicle manufacturers increasingly adopt battery chemistries that use manganese to improve energy density, reduce costs and lower dependence on more expensive metals such as nickel and cobalt.
For Eramet, entering the market now offers an opportunity to diversify beyond traditional steel customers before battery demand reaches scale.
China remains the biggest obstacle
Despite the opportunity, breaking into the battery materials market will not be straightforward.
China dominates the global refining industry for battery-grade manganese chemicals, giving it considerable influence over supply chains, pricing and downstream manufacturing.
That means Eramet’s investment case will depend not only on Gabon’s industrial ambitions but also on global electric vehicle demand, future battery chemistry trends and whether customers seek alternative suppliers outside China.
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The French miner will therefore only proceed if the projects demonstrate long-term commercial
The memorandum specifically states that Eramet will independently assess profitability before committing capital, while Gabon has pledged to ensure the energy infrastructure required to support the proposed industrial facilities.
Reliable and competitively priced electricity is particularly important because manganese alloy production is among the most energy-intensive processes in the mining industry.
The agreement extends beyond manganese. Eramet and Gabon also plan to develop a domestic biochar industry using forestry waste as a substitute for imported metallurgical coke, helping reduce emissions from manganese processing while creating another industrial supply chain.
Gabon plans to ban exports of unprocessed manganese ore from 2029 to encourage local industrialisation.Découverte de Manganèse en Côte d’IvoirePulse Côte d’Ivoire
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In addition, both parties will establish a “Made in Gabon” industrial seed fund aimed at supporting local manufacturing businesses and creating as many as 3,000 industrial jobs over time.
These initiatives underscore Gabon’s broader objective of transforming mining from an extractive industry into a catalyst for wider industrial development.
Across Africa, governments are increasingly seeking greater control over critical mineral value chains as demand rises for materials needed in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced manufacturing.
Zimbabwe has tightened policies around lithium processing, Guinea has sought greater local value addition in its bauxite industry, while rers to build refineries and processing plants rather than export raw ores
The approach mirrors Indonesia’s strategy of restricting raw nickel exports to stimulate domestic processing, a policy that has reshaped global nickel supply chains over the past decade.
For Gabon, success will ultimately depend on execution.
The memorandum creates a roadmap rather than binding investment commitments, meaning each project must still pass technical studies, secure financing and receive final investment approval.
If completed, however, the projects could significantly strengthen Gabon’s industrial base, increase government revenues, generate skilled jobs and position Africa’s second-largest manganese producer as a more important player in the global battery materials supply chain.
