In Libreville, PROMETAL Gabon, a subsidiary of the PROMETAL Groupe conglomerate founded by Hayssam EL JAMMAL, is laying the first stone and officially launching construction work on its steel plant on a 15-hectare site this Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The ceremony, held at the Nkok Special Economic Zone (SEZ), is being held under the High Patronage of the President of the Gabonese Republic, H.E. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
An initial investment of 38 billion FCFA, at the heart of Gabon’s industrial strategy
The conglomerate is putting forward a two-phase investment program, the first of which is valued at nearly 38 billion FCFA (39.979 million FCFA). This operational rollout follows a strategic investment agreement signed with the Gabonese State on February 18, 2025, illustrating PROMETAL Groupe’s commitment to supporting Central African states in their industrialization policies, the creation of local added value, and the construction and structuring of a competitive and sustainable industrial fabric.
PROMETAL Gabon’s investment program is structured around two phases: Phase 1 (Scrap metal processing) involves setting up a scrap metal processing unit with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes of rebar (Fe 400 and Fe 500), supplemented by the production of tubes (6,000 t/year), size-6 iron bars (6,000 t/year), roofing sheets (3,000 t/year), and nails (3,000 t/year); while Phase 2 (Iron ore processing) focuses on building an integrated steel complex backed by the extraction and direct processing of local iron ore, including a direct reduction unit to locally control the entire value chain.
Reducing imports and improving the trade balance
This establishment in the Nkok SEZ aligns directly with the National Growth and Development Plan (PNCD 2026-2030) and the Gabon 2050 vision. The key challenge is to break away from the rentier model by promoting local processing of raw materials and replacing imports with “Made in Gabon” production.
According to impact forecasts, the plant’s entry into production will drastically reduce imports of steel billets and finished products, mechanically improving the country’s trade balance while stabilizing supply and consumer purchasing power in the construction materials market. The project is also expected to create 350 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs.
A regional vision: industrializing Central Africa
Beyond Gabon, PROMETAL Groupe is positioning this project within a broader regional drive to support the industrialization of Central Africa. The Nkok complex is designed to supply the Gabonese and sub-regional markets with steel products, thereby contributing to the creation of local added value, the local processing of raw materials, industrialization, and nation-building.
With this investment in Gabon, PROMETAL Groupe — which already claims over 200 billion FCFA invested in the sub-region and more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs — is consolidating its position as the leading player in Central Africa. Over the span of 15 years, the group has profoundly transformed the sector, reversing the market trend.
The establishment of this state-of-the-art plant in Libreville aims specifically to replicate this performance on a sub-regional scale. By targeting both the local market and exports to neighboring countries, PROMETAL Gabon is positioning itself as a key player in economic integration and industrial competitiveness, at a time when the mechanisms of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are being put in place.
