President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema traveled to Beijing to review a technical study for the long-stalled Mabounié niobium and rare-earth project, backed by a proposed $2 billion development plan involving Emirati-backed New Energy Metals and Chinese engineering group ENFI.
President Nguema Reviews Technical Study in Beijing
Gabon is attempting to restart development at the Mabounié deposit. The project targets niobium and rare-earth elements, which remain critical for advanced electronics and manufacturing supply chains globally.
New Energy Metals and its subsidiary Dusk Gabon presented the technical blueprint during the presidential visit to China last week, according to a statement published on the presidency’s Facebook page. The presentation outlines the parameters required to move the dormant mineral asset past its previous hurdles.
Gabon is looking to revive its long-stalled Mabounié niobium and rare-earth project through a proposed $2 billion development https://t.co/PZWQvoXyrG
Financing the Mabounié Rare Earths Push
The proposed $2 billion injection relies on a partnership structure bridging Middle Eastern capital and Chinese industrial engineering expertise. New Energy Metals operates alongside Emirati backing, while ENFI brings the heavy industrial construction capabilities needed to extract and process complex rare-earth ores.
Previous efforts to bring the Mabounié deposit into commercial production stalled due to the capital-intensive nature of separation facilities and infrastructure deficits within Central Africa. This dual-nation backing aims to bypass those historical financing bottlenecks.
| Project Entity | Role / Contribution | Target Asset |
|---|---|---|
| New Energy Metals / Dusk Gabon | Project Development & Technical Study | Mabounié Deposit |
| ENFI | Chinese Engineering & Construction | Mabounié Infrastructure |
| Gabonese Presidency | State Oversight & Diplomatic Review | Mabounié Concession |
Next Steps for the Development Framework
No final construction date or binding financial close has been formally announced by the presidency or the participating firms following the Beijing meetings.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
