Gabon has taken a significant step toward strengthening its mining sector by signing a new collaboration agreement with South Africa aimed at enhancing geological research and technical capacity to accelerate the sustainable development of the country’s mineral resources.
Under the agreement, signed between Gabon’s Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources and South Africa’s Council for Geoscience, both countries will work closely to improve geological data, share expertise, and build technical skills critical to modern mineral exploration and resource management.
The partnership is expected to support Gabon in developing a more robust understanding of its subsurface geology, improving exploration efficiency and attracting investment. By leveraging South Africa’s long history and technical experience in geoscience, Gabon aims to boost transparency and competitiveness in its mining industry, while addressing challenges such as limited geological coverage and data gaps.
Officials from both sides highlighted the importance of cooperation in an era where geological knowledge underpins effective mining strategies, sustainable resource utilisation and long-term economic growth. Enhanced geoscience capabilities can also aid in value addition by helping identify promising areas for downstream processing, beneficiation and industrial integration.
The agreement aligns with broader trends across Africa where countries are increasingly seeking regional and international partnerships to harness their mineral wealth more effectively. With global demand for strategic minerals such as manganese, rare earths and graphite rising, deepening technical collaboration, especially in geoscience, is seen as a key driver of responsible mining and industrial transformation.
Both Gabon and South Africa said they are committed to working together to ensure the collaboration yields practical outcomes, including joint research initiatives, capacity‑building programmes, and improved geological data infrastructure that supports policy formulation, investment decisions and sustainable development goals.
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