On the sidelines of the fourth edition of the Oil Days in Casablanca (May 20-23, 2026), Martin Boguikouma, General Manager of the Gabon Ports and Harbors Office (OPRAG), detailed the country’s new port ambition, based on logistical modernization, digitalization, and the development of smart ports to support the country’s oil and mining boom.
The Gabonese official emphasized that OPRAG, now a true national port authority, currently oversees several strategic concessions operated with international partners in containerized, mining, and oil activities. In Libreville and Port-Gentil, port infrastructures already support flows related to manganese, offshore hydrocarbons, and regional trade.
But Gabon now aims to scale up. Martin Boguikouma highlighted the projects of the future mineral port of Koukoué and the deep-water port of Mayumba, set to become a strategic hub for iron, hydrocarbons, potash, and industrial activities. Located on the Atlantic axis, Mayumba is expected to host “green” and smart infrastructures integrating storage, industrial processing, and next-generation energy logistics.
The General Manager of OPRAG also emphasized the cooperation with Tanger Med within the “Gabon Smart Port 2035” program. This partnership focuses on the digitalization of port activities, maritime surveillance systems, and the improvement of operational standards to eventually allow Gabon to accommodate new generation vessels.
For Martin Boguikouma, the development of African oil and mining sectors cannot happen without efficient port logistics. The Gabonese leader believes that the economic transformation desired by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema now requires port infrastructures capable of supporting the country’s industrial and energy ambitions.
