The Gabonese State recently signed, with the Australian group Fortescue Metals, a mining agreement for the exploitation of the iron deposit of Belinga located in the province of Ogooué Ivindo, in the North-East of Gabon.
“Thanks to the leadership of the Head of State and in accordance with his vision set out in his speech on December 31, 2022, the Belinga iron deposit project in its first operating phase will generate 1,600 jobs and 20,000 other direct and indirect for the next phase”, indicated the Minister of Mines and Geology, Elvis Ossindji, who initialed the convention, on the Gabonese side.
Fortescue Metals Group had officially launched, on October 16, 2022 in Makokou, the exploration phase of the mineral-rich deposit, planned for three years with an investment of 90 million dollars; knowing that the first extraction is expected in the second half of 2023.
This Australian group, which will act through Ivindo Iron SA, an 80%-owned joint venture, explains that “the mining agreement governs all the legal, tax and regulatory regimes for the 4,500 square kilometers that make up the Belinga project, including including early development for production up to two million tonnes per year, while studies advance potential designs for full-scale development”.
On Twitter, President Ali Bongo said that “the signing of the Belinga iron mine operating agreement is an important event for Gabon. It changes, for the better, the face of our economy. Eventually, more than 10 billion dollars will be invested and 20,000 jobs created”.
“In accordance with our requirements, the operation will be done in a sustainable manner in compliance with the highest environmental standards,” he added.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1044 of 13/02/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
