The world's largest mining company BHP refuses African deposits in Gabon

The leading world mining company BHP Billiton froze all its projects in Central Africa - Gabon, without justifying the hopes of the local government for significant investments in the development of manganese and iron ores in the country.

Reuters unsuccessfully tried to get comments from a BHP representative about this. It is only known that the company has licenses for the production of manganese in Moonan and the Podge, and also signed a contract with the Beling mines with Gabon, pushing the Chinese company Comibel.

“We respect the BHP decision to freeze our activities in Gabon,” says a senior official of the local ministry of mining industry. "At the same time, this will be a blow to the country that intended to become the world's largest exporter of manganese ore."

Gabon is the second largest in the world as a mining of minerals and metallurgical raw materials after South Africa.

Another high -ranking official of the Gabon government is more categorically configured: "The decision made today by BHP is jealous of the previously reached agreements on the transfer of iron ore deposits in Beling."

Meanwhile, BHP Billiton has already closed its office in the capital of Gabon liberville. The company will announce the closure of business in Gabon in the next few days.

Projects in Beling were supposed to give a significant economic incentive for Gabon, given that the government strives to diversify its dependence on oil exports, but so far they are haunted by a series of delays and failures.

Recall that in 2007, the iron ore deposit in Beling was sent to the concession to the Chinese, but they could not withstand strict environmental requirements and were expelled by the Gabon government from the country after repeated violations.