Kobé-Kobé deepwater port marks Gabon’s shift away from oil dependence

With the launch of construction for the future Kobé-Kobé deepwater port, Gabon embarks on one of the most ambitious structural projects in its recent history. Backed by the Belinga iron ore deposit, a new railway infrastructure, and the planned Booué hydroelectric dam, this industrial and logistics complex embodies the authorities’ determination to build an economy less reliant on oil and more focused on local processing of natural resources.

Long dependent on oil revenues, Gabon now seeks to diversify its growth drivers. In this strategy, the Kobé-Kobé project stands as a cornerstone of the new economic model envisioned by the government. More than just a port, it is a vast industrial ecosystem designed to connect the country’s mining resources to international markets while maximizing local benefits.

Located on the Atlantic coast in Estuaire province, the future deepwater port will have a draft depth estimated between 14 and 16 metres, enabling it to accommodate very large vessels. This feature is expected to significantly enhance Gabon’s logistical competitiveness in a context of growing rivalry among Central African port infrastructures.

An integrated project at the heart of economic transformation

Kobé-Kobé is part of a complete value chain built around several strategic infrastructures. Central to the system is the Belinga iron ore deposit, considered one of the largest still unexploited in the world. To transport the ore to the coast, a new railway line must connect the interior to the future port. Added to this is the Booué hydroelectric dam project, intended to provide the energy needed to operate the mining and industrial complex. This integrated approach aims to avoid the traditional model of raw material export by promoting domestic processing. The strategic agreement signed in April 2026 between the Gabonese state and Africa Global Logistics (AGL) represents a decisive step toward realising the project. The stated goal is to create a benchmark logistics platform capable of supporting the country’s industrialisation.

Up to 160,000 jobs expected

Beyond infrastructure, one of the main stakes remains the social and economic impact of the project. According to projections, the complex could generate up to 160,000 direct and indirect jobs during its development. This prospect sends a strong signal to Gabonese youth facing employment integration challenges. The needs will span construction trades as well as logistics, industry, rail transport, energy, and maintenance. For the authorities, the aim is to create a genuine ripple effect across the entire national economic fabric by fostering the emergence of local companies capable of participating in the subcontracting chain.

The materialisation of an ambition for economic sovereignty

Beyond its economic dimension, Kobé-Kobé also carries strong symbolic weight. The project reflects the will of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to build an economy more grounded in the valorisation of national resources and control over strategic infrastructure. In a context where economic sovereignty is a major issue for African states, the future mining, energy, railway, and port complex appears as one of the most concrete illustrations of this ambition. If the announced deadlines are met, Kobé-Kobé could, by around 2030, become one of the main symbols of Gabon’s economic transformation and its entry into the post-oil era.