Industry & Mining
From The Report: Gabon 2015
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With 5% growth in the secondary sector in 2014, Gabon’s industrialisation continues apace under the Emerging Gabon plan, supported by investors in agro-industry, construction materials, forestry and petrochemicals. Special economic zones are being developed to process raw commodities into products with higher value added, fed partly by new projects in the mining sector.

This chapter includes interviews with Christophe Akagha-Mba, Minister of Mines, Industry and Tourism; and Fabrice Nzé-Békalé, CEO, Société Equatoriale des Mines (SEM).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Branching out: Investment in value-added production drives growth in the industrial sector
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The diversification of the economy through its industrialisation under the Emerging Gabon Strategic Plan (Plan Strategique Gabon Emergent, PSGE) is taking shape with the support of strategic investors in agro-industry, construction materials, forestry and petrochemicals. The secondary sector – including manufacturing and the processing of the country’s various raw commodities, such as gold, oil and wood – is a focal point under one of the PSGE’s three pillars, known as Industrial Gabon. The…

Interview

OBG talks to Christophe Akagha-Mba, Minister of Mines, Industry and Tourism: Interview
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Interview: Christophe Akagha-Mba What are the prospects for mining in Gabon? CHRISTOPHE AKAGHA-MBA: The contribution of the mining sector to GDP is going to rise by two percentage points in 2015, from 4.5% to 6.5%. This growth will be driven by the substantial increase in manganese production, up from 3.6m tonnes to 4.2m tonnes thanks to the development of Compagnie des Mines de l’Ogooué (COMILOG), which was made possible via the upgrade of railway transportation. The founding of the ferro-manganese…

Analysis

Open for business: The development of the first special economic zone is showing promise
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The development of the industrial sector through the establishment of three special economic zones (SEZs) to diversify the economy and create jobs is one of the pillars of the Emerging Gabon strategy. The project is still in its early stages, with the development of the first such zone at Nkok ongoing, but the early signs are promising, with tax benefits, access to inputs, and requisite utility, transport and logistics infrastructure attracting investors. Eight firms are operating in Nkok as of…

Analysis

Reaping the harvest: Fertiliser production is set to take off, supported by a wealth of natural resources
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With the bulk of upstream activity having been focused on oil, Gabon’s gas reserves have been left largely untouched. This, however, is due to change in the coming years. Gas is a primary component of fertiliser production, and Gabon hopes to become a major fertiliser producer, with an eye to profiting from demand growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Sowing Growth Africa accounted for only 3% of world fertiliser consumption in 2013, but the “World Fertiliser Trends and Outlook to 2018”, published…

Interview

OBG talks to Fabrice Nzé-Békalé, CEO, Société Equatoriale des Mines (SEM): Interview
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Interview: FabriceNzé-Békalé What major improvements does the new Mining Code bring to foreign investors? FABRICE NZÉ-BÉKALÉ​: The revision of the Mining Code has been a long process initiated more than four years ago. There was a need to bring some clarifications not only for existing investors, but also for new foreign investors who required a more stable and accurate legal framework to start their investment in the country. In the former code, there were still a lot of uncertainties.…

Overview

Heavy metal: The country’s rich ore deposits are still very much untapped
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Natural richesse in Gabon extends well beyond the country’s sizeable oil and gas reserves and fertile soil. Based on forecasts for production and processing of manganese, the mining sector’s primary output, along with gold, iron ore and poly-metallic deposits, the sector’s GDP contribution could grow from its current 6% to as much as 25% within the next 15-20 years, according to Fabrice Nzé-Békalé, CEO of state-owned mining company Société Equatoriale des Mines (SEM). Resources Manganese,…

Analysis

Clarifying the rules: The ins and outs of new pending legislation on mining
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A new mining code for Gabon is expected to be promulgated in the near future, following its approval by President Ali Bongo Ondimba in February 2015. Under preparation since 2011, it has had a convoluted history, and may yet be further revised. The new code, which replaces the mining law of 2000, seeks not only to provide a clear and attractive regulatory framework for investors but also to address new roles for the state. “The principal aim of the administration was to make the code as attractive…