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WHERE WILL THE ELECTRICITY COME FROM ? D’OÚ PROVIENDRA L’ÉLECTRICITÉ ?

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English version  The question that makes us doubt the feasibility of this agreement by 2031 is precisely the critical point and major technical constraint of this project: the lack of energy. Pyrometallurgy and the chemical processing of manganese are among the most energy-intensive processes in the world, requiring between 2,600 and 5,800 kWh per ton produced, depending on the added value of the alloy. It is precisely this "energy wall" that explains why CBON's initial ambition, which aimed for 5 million tons processed, was scaled down in the protocol signed in Paris to a more modest objective of 700,000 tons per year by 2031. In the agreement concluded between the Gabonese State and Eramet/Comilog, the energy roadmap relies on several strategic levers: 1. Strengthening the Hydroelectric Mix To power the plants, the master plan relies on scaling up the hydroelectric grid: The Mbei Basin:  With the gradual commissioning of power plants like Kinguélé Aval (34 MW) to suppor...
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THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING SIGNED BETWEEN GABON AND ERAMET! LE PROTOCOLE D’ACCORD SIGNÉ ENTRE LE GABON ET ERAMET !

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English version  The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on July 20, 2026, between the French mining group Eramet (and its subsidiary Comilog) and the Gabonese State marks a turning point in the strategic partnership aimed at locally processing the manganese value chain. However, one might wonder whether this memorandum of understanding will age well. This agreement comes within a regulatory framework where Gabon has set the objective of progressively banning the export of raw ore to foster industrialization and local processing. The objective targeted by the memorandum of understanding is to process up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore locally per year by the end of 2031. This value addition aims to supply both the steel industry and strategic sectors of the energy transition (electric vehicle batteries, high-performance steels, etc.). To achieve this goal, Eramet and the Gabonese State are evaluating three development avenues: Manganese Oxide Plant in Libreville (by 2028): ...
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WHY IS CBON GOING TO FRANCE ? QUE VA FAIRE CBON EN FRANCE ?

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English version  We have scrutinized the French press, and we note that it adopts an analytical, pragmatic, and at times vigilant perspective on CBON's state visit to Paris. In contrast to the festive and unanimous tone of the official Gabonese press, French media highlight the strategic, economic, and military backstage of this trip. Outlets like RFI and major French daily newspapers underscore the turning point that this state visit represents. Having come to power following a coup d'état in August 2023, CBON seems to view this stay in Paris as the culmination of his quest for international legitimacy. The press notes that Emmanuel Macron's France chose to support the Gabonese transition from the very beginning, contrasting sharply with the total rupture observed with the military juntas of the Sahel (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger). Paris is reportedly seeking to preserve a historical ally in a Central Africa where its zones of influence are undergoing reconfiguration. French...
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