Gabon Signs Geoscience Pact with South Africa to Unlock Mineral Potential

Gabon has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with South Africa’s Council for Geoscience, aimed at strengthening geological research capacity and accelerating the development of Gabon’s mineral sector.

The agreement was concluded on the sidelines of the African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, underscoring growing regional cooperation in mineral exploration and resource governance.

Diversifying Beyond Oil

The partnership forms part of Gabon’s broader strategy to diversify its economy beyond hydrocarbons and unlock the commercial potential of its significant mineral resources, including iron ore, manganese and gold.

Sosthene Nguema Nguema said the agreement aligns with President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema’s directive to increase the mining sector’s contribution to national GDP and position Gabon as a competitive player in the regional mining landscape.

“Ultimately, we will have to work in collaboration with advanced mining economies like South Africa to achieve this,” he noted.

The agreement was formally signed by Alain Manzanza, Director General of Geology in Gabon’s Ministry of Mines, and Mosa Mabuza, Chief Executive of the Council for Geoscience.

Strengthening Geological Intelligence

Under the partnership, South Africa’s Council for Geoscience will collaborate with Gabonese experts to undertake comprehensive geological assessments, consolidate existing datasets, and develop updated resource maps.

Improved geological intelligence is expected to enhance Gabon’s ability to plan resource development more effectively, structure transparent licensing rounds, and provide investors with reliable, high-quality data — a critical factor in attracting exploration capital.

For Gabon, which hosts some of the world’s largest manganese reserves and significant untapped iron ore deposits, improved mapping and data integration could unlock new downstream and beneficiation opportunities.

Capacity Building and ESG Alignment

Capacity building is a central pillar of the agreement. The collaboration includes training programmes, technical exchanges and joint research initiatives aimed at strengthening the skills of Gabonese geologists, engineers and regulatory officials.

Officials also indicated that the partnership will support regulatory transparency and align mining operations with evolving global environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Environmental and technological cooperation will focus on promoting responsible mining practices and improving monitoring systems.

Joint working groups are expected to develop an implementation roadmap in the coming months, identifying priority survey areas, timelines for geological studies and structured training schedules.

Regional Cooperation Gains Momentum

The pact highlights a broader trend of intra-African technical collaboration in the mining sector, as countries seek to build institutional capacity and reduce reliance on external consultants for geological data and resource assessment.

As demand for critical minerals grows globally, improved geoscientific capacity may prove essential for ensuring that resource-rich nations such as Gabon capture greater value from their mineral endowment while maintaining regulatory credibility.