At a Glance
- Genmin and Sinohydro team up to advance Gabon’s Baniaka iron ore project.
- The deal includes road, power line, and housing infrastructure to support mine expansion.
- Partnership highlights China’s growing role in Africa’s iron ore supply chain.
Genmin Limited, an Australia-based iron ore company, has signed a partnership with Sinohydro, a unit of Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), to fast-track the Baniaka iron ore project in Gabon.
The agreement, sealed in April through a binding memorandum of understanding, is one of the most significant mining commitments announced in Central Africa this year.
It underscores China’s deepening role in African resource development at a time when global demand for iron ore remains strong.
Infrastructure commitments take shape
Under the deal, Sinohydro will deliver engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, while PowerChina will assist Genmin in securing funding from Chinese lenders, global investors and potential iron ore buyers.
As part of the early work, Sinohydro has completed a technical review of the Baniaka project and submitted EPC proposals covering key infrastructure.
Plans include a 60-kilometer haul road linking the mine to the Franceville rail hub, a 30-kilometer power line to the Grand Poubara hydroelectric plant, and a new workforce village.
Genmin said the review suggests possible cost savings compared with its 2022 feasibility study. The company is now preparing additional civil engineering scopes for Sinohydro’s assessment. According to preliminary estimates, the Chinese contractor could deliver up to half of the total project work.
“PowerChina’s involvement and Sinohydro’s competitive proposals are important steps in moving Baniaka forward,” Genmin said, noting that financing talks are ongoing with multiple Chinese and international partners.
Gabon’s bid to join global iron ore suppliers
The Baniaka project is central to Gabon’s plan to become a key supplier of high-grade iron ore. Genmin controls exploration and mining licenses covering more than 4,400 square kilometers, giving it one of the most advanced portfolios in the country.
For Sinohydro, the agreement deepens its presence in Gabon, where it has already spent more than a decade building large-scale infrastructure projects. Globally, PowerChina and its subsidiaries are recognized for constructing more than 65% of China’s large and mid-scale hydropower stations.
With African mining attracting new capital and China strengthening ties with resource-rich nations, the Genmin-Sinohydro partnership signals Gabon’s growing importance in the global iron ore market.
