Gabon, Eramet-Comilog and Sinohydro signed a letter of intent in Beijing on 5 November 2026 to explore electricity supply solutions for a planned manganese beneficiation plant in Gabon. Sinohydro is a subsidiary of the Chinese group PowerChina. The signing marks a new phase in Gabon's ambitions to process manganese domestically rather than export raw ore.
The letter of intent — a preliminary, non-binding instrument — covers the investigation of hydroelectric options that could power an industrial-scale beneficiation facility. No plant capacity, investment figure, project timeline, or specific hydroelectric site was disclosed in connection with the signing. The agreement commits the three parties to study the feasibility of an electricity solution; it does not constitute a contract award or a construction commitment.
Manganese beneficiation requires large and reliable power inputs, making electricity supply a foundational constraint for any smelting or refining operation. Gabon holds some of the world's largest known manganese deposits, with Eramet-Comilog operating the Moanda mine in the southeast of the country. The Gabonese government has signalled a strategic intent to capture more downstream value from the country's mineral resources, and securing dedicated power infrastructure is a prerequisite for that transition.
Sinohydro's involvement points toward a hydroelectric development model, consistent with PowerChina's portfolio of dam and power-generation projects across sub-Saharan Africa. The scale, financing structure, and location of any potential hydroelectric facility remain undefined at this stage. Whether the electricity solution would be built as a dedicated industrial supply asset or integrated into the national grid has not been specified.
The three-party letter of intent initiates a study phase. Further instruments — including feasibility studies, MoUs with defined terms, and ultimately a project financing and construction agreement — would be required before any infrastructure development could proceed. The timeline for completing the exploration phase was not disclosed.