Gabon's manganese: Eramet's financial struggles and geopolitical competition for Moanda's resources
via Gabon Review3 min read
A Gabonese content creator, SW Decrypte, highlights the geopolitical battle surrounding Eramet and Gabon's manganese. Eramet, a long-standing partner of the Gabonese state, faces significant financial difficulties, including a net loss of 477 million euros in 2025, the dismissal of its CEO, and an urgent need to raise 500 million euros. This situation has attracted interest from global powers like Washington and Abu Dhabi, who are keen on securing access to Moanda's manganese, especially as the Duval family, a major shareholder, considers selling its stake. The tiktoker emphasizes that these powers are primarily interested in the mineral access rather than Eramet itself, positioning Gabon's manganese as a geostrategic asset in the face of Chinese dominance in critical minerals. Gabon holds a significant stake in Comilog, giving it leverage. However, the country's ambition for local processing by 2029 faces a major hurdle: a substantial energy deficit. Transforming manganese locally would require massive investments in infrastructure, raising questions about whether new shareholders would be willing to fund such costly endeavors when their primary interest is securing raw material supply. The issue is expected to be a key topic during President Oligui Nguema's state visit to France on July 20, underscoring the sensitive nature of the dossier for Gabonese authorities.
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