(Ecofin Agency) - Gabon wishes to become the world’s biggest manganese producer in 2019. This was revealed by the country’s minister of mines, Christian Magnagna, minister of mines, in an interview with the local daily L’Union.

 “We plan to reach 6,000,000 tons of manganese in 2018, and become the world’s leading manganese producer by 2019”, the official declared.

The project includes as well other ores since the minister indicated that it plans to start exploiting this year 10 small-scale gold mines, focus on the valorization of artisanal cooperatives, with as consequence the constitution of a gold stock for the State.

Christian Magnagna also wants to launch new mining projects this year, including "Eteke’s Gold, Baniaka’s Iron at Boumango, Milingui’s Iron at Tchibanga".