GABON · MINING
Key Facts
- —The country Gabon is a small oil and manganese producer on Central Africa’s Atlantic coast, and the main source of the manganese ore the United States imports.
- —What happened On Monday 19 October 2026, Gabon revokes 49 mining permits: 39 research permits and 10 exploitation permits return to the state.
- —The audit The ministry’s audit ran from Monday 29 June to Friday 16 October 2026 and found failures to meet legal and regulatory obligations.
- —The background Small-scale gold mining was frozen nationwide on Monday 22 June 2026, after an operation in Ngounié province dismantled an illegal gold network.
- —For US readers Gabon supplied 64% of US manganese ore imports from 2021 to 2024, so any change in how it treats mining rights draws attention in Washington and on Wall Street.
- —Still open The communiqué gives no permit numbers, no appeal route and no plan for who will receive the areas next.
Gabon revokes 49 mining permits after a four-month audit, the mines ministry said in Libreville on Monday 19 October 2026. The decision follows a nationwide freeze on small-scale gold mining that began on Monday 22 June.
The ministry said the audit found failures to meet legal and regulatory obligations, so the permits return to the state. Gabonreview and Gabonactu, two Gabonese news sites, published the list of companies on Tuesday 20 October.
What the Ministry Announced
The Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources, led by minister Sosthène Nguema Nguema, said the permits return to the public domain of the state. A research permit lets a company search for deposits, while an exploitation permit lets it mine them.
Gabon revokes 49 mining permits held by 39 research holders and 10 exploitation holders, with three companies on both lists. The ministry warned that anyone who breaks the rules faces court action.
Which Companies Lose Their Permits
The 39 research permits include those of Abice Mining Gabon, Afrique Resources, Les Mines du Gabon, Somine Gabon and Ivindo Mining. Gabon Gold Mining, Jin He Mining and Yin He Mining also lose research permits.
The ten exploitation permits belonged to SMO, Société Perle Gabonaise, Agil Gabon, Craton del Congo Exploraciones and Yin He Mining. They also covered Élie Resources Gabon, Gabon Gold Mining, Global Mine Development, Jin He Mining and the Société des mines et carrières du Gabon.
How the Audit Unfolded
Gabon Media Time reported that the freeze began on Monday 22 June 2026, after an operation in Ngounié province dismantled an illegal gold network. The ministry cited public disorder, environmental damage and lost state revenue, and promised zero tolerance.
On Tuesday 14 July the ministry ordered gold permit holders to attend hearings in Libreville starting on Thursday 16 July. They had to bring legal papers, work programmes, environmental certificates and proof of royalty payments, and unjustified absence could lead to suspension.
The Legal Basis for the Decision
Gabon revokes 49 mining permits under Law No. 037/2018, which regulates the mining sector, after the audit tested compliance with it. The ministry said several holders did not meet its legal and regulatory requirements.
The ministry invited operators to contact its services for more information. Gabonreview reported that the permits are spread across provinces including Estuaire, Ngounié, Haut-Ogooué and Nyanga.
What It Means for US Readers
Gabon supplied 64% of US manganese ore imports from 2021 to 2024, according to the US Geological Survey, the federal agency that tracks mineral supplies. The published list does not name Eramet Comilog, the company that runs the Moanda manganese mines.
Foreign investors now face a state that cancels titles after an audit, because Gabon revokes 49 mining permits it judges non-compliant. The Rio Times followed the state’s finances in its report on Gabon’s tax breaks and the wider picture in its guide to Africa’s critical minerals.
What Is Not Known
The communiqué gives no permit numbers and no map, so the size of the areas is open. It also does not say whether the companies can appeal.
It is open whether the state will offer the areas to new investors and whether the freeze on small-scale gold mining will end. The ministry has not said which minerals the permits cover or how much revenue the state lost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gabon decide on 19 October?
Gabon’s mines ministry announced that 49 research and exploitation permits return to the public domain of the state. Gabonactu listed 39 research and 10 exploitation holders, with Gabon Gold Mining on both lists.
Why did Gabon revoke the mining permits?
Gabon revokes 49 mining permits because, the ministry said, an audit from 29 June to 16 October found failures to meet legal and regulatory obligations. The audit tested compliance with Law No. 037/2018 on the mining sector.
Does the decision affect US manganese supplies?
The published list does not name Eramet Comilog, which runs the Moanda manganese mines. Gabon supplied 64% of US manganese ore imports from 2021 to 2024, so any later move on manganese would matter to US buyers.
What is a research permit and an exploitation permit?
A research permit allows a company to search for mineral deposits in an area. An exploitation permit allows it to mine a deposit it has found.
What happened to small-scale gold mining in Gabon?
The ministry suspended small-scale gold mining nationwide on 22 June 2026, after a security operation in Ngounié province. It then audited all gold mining titles.
Sources: Gabonreview, plusieurs sociétés minières sanctionnées et privées de leurs permis après un audit, 20 October 2026; Gabonactu, Mines: l’État récupère des dizaines de permis aurifères, 20 October 2026; Gabon Media Time, suspension des permis de recherche et d’exploitation de la petite mine d’or, 24 June 2026; Gabonreview, secteur aurifère: le ministère des Mines lance une vaste opération de contrôle, 14 July 2026; US Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, manganese, 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief