Eramet Strengthens Local Manganese Processing in Gabon Ahead of 2029 Export Ban
French mining group Eramet has appointed a senior executive to lead its mineral processing operations in Gabon, as the West African nation moves to end exports of unrefined manganese and boost domestic value addition.
In late May, Gabon’s government announced that it will ban the export of raw manganese starting January 2029.
The move aligns Gabon with other West African countries seeking to capture more economic benefits from their mineral resources through local processing.
Eramet CEO Paulo Castellari said in July that he had met with Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema to discuss the policy shift, which could impact the company’s large-scale, export-oriented manganese operations in the country.
The company confirmed that Clément Jakymiw has been appointed as Director of Value Chain Transformation in Gabon, reporting directly to Castellari.
“This approach reflects Gabon’s ambition for industrialization and local processing, and it reinforces the long-standing partnership that has linked Eramet with Gabon—our historic base for nearly 30 years,” Castellari stated.
Previously serving as Deputy Chief Operating Officer in charge of manganese ore, Jakymiw will now oversee initiatives to expand local processing capacity.
Gabon, also a major oil exporter, holds some of the world’s richest manganese deposits, most of which are operated by Eramet’s subsidiary Comilog.
While Comilog already processes some manganese locally, the majority of its production is still exported in raw form.
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