Fortescue Metals Group, an Australian iron ore mining company, has signed an agreement with Gabon’s government to start mining iron ore in the Belinga deposit, located in the east of Gabon, with 2 million tons output per year, starting in the second half of 2023.

The Belinga project is operated by Ivindo Iron, a joint venture 80%-owned by Fortescue and 20% by the African Transformation and Industrialization Fund.

The Belinga deposit is located 150 km far from the existing Trans-Gabon railway, which can deliver iron ore to the Libreville port.