Eramet and Gabon agree to build 700,000‑tonne manganese processing capacity for EV batteries

Eramet, the French mining group, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gabonese government in Paris during President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s visit. The deal outlines the construction and modernization of three manganese‑processing plants that could treat up to 700,000 tonnes of ore annually by the end of 2031.

The projects include a 10,000‑tonne manganese‑oxide plant aimed at supplying the electric‑vehicle battery market from 2028, alongside facilities for manganese alloys and specialty steels. They are intended to help Gabon meet its policy to ban exports of unprocessed manganese from January 2029, thereby expanding local value‑addition and employment.

While steel currently absorbs about 90 % of global manganese demand, Eramet hopes the new capacity will position it for the emerging battery‑grade market, which the International Energy Agency forecasts could account for 5 % of manganese demand by 2035 and 10 % by 2040.