Gabon revokes 52 mining permits following compliance audit
The permits, comprising 41 exploration titles and 11 exploitation permits, were withdrawn after an audit found non-compliance with the country’s mining regulations
The Gabon Ministry of Mines and Geological Resources has announced that it is revoking 41 exploration permits and 11 mining permits.
This comes after an audit carried out from June 29 to October 16, 2026.
The decision affects 41 exploration permits and 11 mining exploitation permits held by operators found to have failed to meet the legal and regulatory requirements governing mining activities in the country.
According to the ministry, the affected exploration permits are spread across the provinces of Ogooué-Ivindo, Woleu-Ntem, Haut-Ogooué, Ogooué-Lolo, Ngounié, Estuaire and Nyanga.
The 11 exploitation permits are located in Ngounié, Ogooué-Lolo, Estuaire, Woleu-Ntem and Ogooué-Ivindo.
The withdrawal forms part of efforts to strengthen oversight and enforcement across Gabon’s mining sector. The ministry said the decision follows the suspension of all small-scale gold mining activities nationwide on June 22, 2026.
The 52 revoked mining titles will return to the state’s public domain. The users and operators concerned have been invited to contact the competent services of the administration in charge of mines for any further information.
