馃嚞馃嚘GabonCentral Africa
Gabon discusses local manganese processing plant with Japan's Asia Minerals Limited
via Gabon Review2 min read
On May 5, the Vice President of the Gabonese Republic, Alexandre Barro Chambrier, met with a delegation from the Japanese group Asia Minerals Limited AML, led by its president, Shuzaburo Tsuchihashi. The discussions in Libreville focused on establishing a manganese processing plant in Gabon, reflecting growing international investor interest in the country's industrial potential and local value addition of its natural resources. This initiative aligns with President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's policy to accelerate the local transformation of raw materials, strengthening the national value chain and reducing reliance on raw product exports. The Director General of the National Investment Promotion Agency ANPI, Ghislain Moandza Mboma, also participated in the exchanges. Following the meeting, AML representatives stated that a technical mission would soon be sent to Gabon to assess the project's implementation conditions. This development comes as Gabonese authorities plan to ban the export of raw manganese starting January 2029, with a three-year transition period from 2025. As the world's second-largest manganese producer, Gabon aims to leverage this strategic resource for industrialization. The AML project is expected to create direct and indirect jobs and stimulate related sectors like infrastructure, logistics, and industrial maintenance, contributing to the country's economic diversification and value creation.
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