Gabon’s kobe-kobe port project: a cornerstone for central african industrial dominance

Gabon’s strategic economic blueprint, designed to yield tangible results, is clearly demonstrating its effectiveness. The nation is embarking on an ambitious journey, aiming to establish itself as a prominent mining and industrial hub across Central Africa by the year 2030. Just over a month following the pivotal strategic agreement with Africa Global Logistics (AGL) concerning the implementation of the Kobe-Kobe project, the government’s primary focus has also intensified on bolstering national infrastructure development.

Demonstrating a firm resolve to translate plans into action, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kobe-Kobe deep-water port on Monday, June 8, 2026.

This expansive and forward-looking project is meticulously designed to encompass a dedicated mineral terminal, a versatile multi-purpose and mineral quay, a crucial railway loop, a residential zone, extensive cargo storage facilities, and administrative offices. Through this truly integrative initiative, Gabon unequivocally asserts its commitment to processing its raw materials domestically. This pursuit of economic sovereignty is being forged in collaboration with a diverse array of international economic partners spanning five continents. Each partner is expected to play a critical role, contributing expertise in areas such as mining, iron processing, and manufacturing plants. The overarching vision is to foster cohesive collaboration in all undertakings. “Everyone must work and deliver results,” emphasized the head of state, highlighting a core principle of governance Africa.

“Today, we are not merely initiating an infrastructure construction site. We are laying the fundamental groundwork for a new development paradigm, one rooted in industrialization, the creation of local value, territorial integration, and Gabon’s logistical sovereignty. Your objective is unambiguous: to position Gabon as an indispensable actor in regional logistics and a strategic nexus within Central Africa. This ambition now takes concrete form,” articulated Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, the Minister of Transport and Merchant Marine.

This ambitious endeavor ranks among the top five largest mining projects globally. Philippe Labone, the Director General of AGL, confirmed that “exports from the Kobe-Kobe port are slated to commence in April 2031.”

In terms of specifics, the accompanying railway corridor for this project will span approximately 550 kilometers, efficiently linking production sites to the port complex with an estimated travel time of around eight hours.

While preliminary studies are already underway, AGL has committed to dispatching young Gabonese individuals for specialized training, ensuring their central involvement in this transformative process, a significant step for society Africa.

Quantitatively, the project anticipates generating over 100,000 employment opportunities, contributing to an increase of more than 50% in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and is projected to yield an annual value exceeding 10 billion dollars.