DUSK Gabon, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based New Energy Metals, said on 9 November that it had sent the government an updated feasibility study for mining the Mabounié deposit in Moyen-Ogooué province, at a cost of over $2 billion. At full capacity the project would produce about 16,000 tonnes of niobium a year, along with tantalum and titanium, from a mine, river transport, port facilities and processing plants near Port-Gentil. The deposit has lain idle for years; the company presented the revised plan to President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Beijing on 6 November. The project fits Gabon’s push to process minerals at home, but no financing, final investment decision or construction contract has been announced.
Sources
- Gabonreview: https://www.gabonreview.com/niobium-de-mabounie-dusk-soumet-au-gouvernement-son-projet-de-plus-de-2-milliards-de-dollars/
- Gabon Media Time: https://gabonmediatime.com/gabon-dusk-annonce-un-investissement-de-plus-de-1-100-milliards-de-fcfa-pour-valoriser-le-gisement-de-mabounie/
- Mining.com.au: https://mining.com.au/gabon-seeks-2-9-billion-for-mabounie-revival/
- Agence Ecofin: https://www.ecofinagency.com/news/0911-60617-gabon-seeks-chinese-investment-in-manganese-iron-processing-and-energy-projects