China and Gabon: A Growing Resource Partnership

The report analyzes the growing resource-based partnership between China and Gabon, highlighting China's increasing role in Gabon's oil, timber, and mining sectors. It details the strategic importance of the Belinga iron ore project and examines how Sino-Gabonese relations are shaped by resource extraction, infrastructure development, and environmental concerns.

• Bilateral trade between China and Gabon has experienced rapid growth, increasing from $88 million in 1994 to $1.2 billion by the end of 2007. Gabonese exports, primarily crude oil, timber, and manganese, dominate this trade, representing 86% of the total in 2007.
• The Belinga iron ore project is the most significant infrastructure and mining venture in the partnership. A Chinese consortium was granted sole development rights in June 2006, pledging a $3 billion investment that includes a 560 km railway line, a deepwater harbour, and a hydroelectric dam on the Ivindo river.
• China's involvement in Gabon's oil sector began in 2004, with Sinopec and Sino Gabon operating in the country. However, Chinese firms currently play a minor role compared to French and US companies because the most profitable oilfields are already dominated by those Western entities.
• Chinese logging companies have increased their presence in Gabon's forestry sector, often by acquiring struggling smaller firms. These companies face criticism from Western NGOs and international institutions for disregarding sustainable logging practices and exporting unprocessed timber.
• Chinese development assistance to Gabon focuses heavily on infrastructure. Notable projects include the National Assembly building in Libreville, the Senate House, and a $83 million concessional loan signed in January 2008 for the Grand Poubara hydroelectric dam.
• Environmental conflicts have occurred due to Chinese resource exploration in protected areas, such as Sinopec's prospecting in Loango National Park. These incidents led to the creation of an independent monitoring commission involving NGO members to oversee environmental standards.

APA

Alves, A. C. (2008). China and Gabon: A Growing Resource Partnership. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/chap_rep_04_alves_200805.pdf

Chicago

Alves, Ana Cristina. China and Gabon: A Growing Resource Partnership. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2008. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/chap_rep_04_alves_200805.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Alves |first1=Ana Cristina |title=China and Gabon: A Growing Resource Partnership |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/chap_rep_04_alves_200805.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{alves2008china, author = {Alves, Ana Cristina}, title = {{China and Gabon: A Growing Resource Partnership}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/chap_rep_04_alves_200805.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }