Gabon Leverages Mineral Wealth to Drive Economic Growth

While oil has long underpinned Gabon's economy, mining is fast emerging as a backbone of its diversification agenda. The manganese mining industry, in particular, is experiencing a surge in revenue. Between January and September 2024, production rose by 10.7 percent, reaching 7.5 million tonnes, up from 6.7 million tonnes the year before—driven by improved infrastructure and mining technology. To secure long-term sustainability, the Central African country is pursuing investor-friendly reforms, offering tax incentives, and upgrading transport networks to attract foreign investment and bolster its position in the international minerals market.

African Currents interviewed Alan M. Clegg, a South African mining engineer and mineral asset valuator with five decades of global experience across more than 150 countries. He heads MetaLeach Ltd. in East London, South Africa. In this conversation, he explains the surging international demand for manganese, the forces shaping the market, and how Gabon's strategic moves are positioning it as a key player in the global supply chain.

"The Gabon government has been doing the right thing. I mean, they're looking at developing their mineral endowment on a more broader footprint. I mean, Gabon has, for example, iron ore. It's got a resource of iron ore four to five times as big as manganese and it's got good quality iron ore, it's also some very good gold prospects. It's also got some good uranium prospects as well. So I think the likely move will be to a more diversified economy. Manganese will remain a significant player, at least for the next 10 to 20 years. But depending on global dynamics, what's happening with this de-globalization, the polarization of trade, those are the factors that's ultimately going to impact as to whether Gabon gets the opportunity to upgrade the production it does have to a higher value product," Clegg said.

To find out what else our guest had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.

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