Prometal Group sets up in Gabon. The project aims to reduce steel imports, create jobs and boost the country’s competitiveness on the international market. The realization of this project was marked by the signing of a land purchase agreement between PrometalGroup and Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), on Monday March 24, 2025. The agreement was signed by Ali Karaki, Deputy Managing Director of Prometal Group, and Igor Simard, Managing Director of GSEZ, in the presence of Samy Biveghe, Managing Director of the Nkok ZIS Administrative Authority, and Ghislain Moandza Mboma, Managing Director of the Agence Nationale de Promotion des Investissements du Gabon (ANPI-Gabon). The signing follows on from the memorandum of understanding signed between PrometalGroup and the Gabonese government at the 1st Gabon-France Business Forum, held in Paris on April 10, 2024, under the auspices of the President of the Transition, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
A project with economic stakes
Prometal Group’s installation in Nkok has a number of strategic objectives, including strengthening local raw material processing, by producing high-quality steel materials directly in Gabon; reducing dependence on imports and improving the competitiveness of the Gabonese market; creating 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, thereby promoting the professional integration of Gabonese people; and boosting exports of steel products made in CEMAC within the framework of the Continental African Free Trade Zone (CAFTA).
Prometal Group: leading steelmaker in Central Africa
With a presence in several countries and recognized expertise in metallurgy and steelmaking, Prometal Group has established itself as a regional leader. Its move into Gabon reflects the company’s commitment to supporting the country in setting up structuring industrial projects, thereby strengthening its attractiveness and economic sovereignty.
The plant, which will be powered by 70 MW of energy, should mark a decisive turning point in the development of Gabon’s steel industry.