On 18 February 2025 in Libreville, the Gabonese government signed an investment agreement with the Prometal group, a steel producer based in Douala (Cameroon) since 2009 and described as the leading steelmaker in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The State was represented by the Minister of Economy, Mark-Alexandre Doumba, alongside the ministers in charge of Mines and Industry.
The project is to be located in the Nkok special investment zone (ZIS), near Libreville. According to Gabonreview, reporting information given at the signing, it provides for an initial investment of 30 billion CFA francs (FCFA), for a total of 150 billion FCFA over five years. The site would cover 10 to 14 hectares with an energy capacity of 70 megawatts (MW). The same outlet reports around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs announced.
The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding signed in Paris on 10 April 2024 at the first Gabon-France Business Forum. It is part of the policy of local processing of raw materials and economic diversification.
