CENTRAL AFRICA | GABON The natural wealth of Gabon includes deposits of gold, manganese and iron-ore SEM’S CAMP 6 GOLD PROJECT Although oil and gas is Gabon’s economic backbone, the mining industry is claiming its place in the sun with the help of Gabon’s state-owned mining company Société Equatoriale des Mines (SEM), also known as Gabon Mining, which is in the process of developing four gold deposits in the country. The Camp 6 gold project located in the Bélinga area in north-east Gabon is the most advanced. CHANTELLE KOTZE writes. IN SHORT SEM, together with the government of Gabon, aims to rebalance the country’s economic drivers so that mining and oil and gas can all contribute to the country’s development. P ursuant in the mission to actively participate in the development of Gabon’s mining potential, SEM has been actively exploring and promoting its mining licence areas, as it believes that discovering and exploiting new deposits is indeed a prerequisite to sustainable mining in Gabon. Discovering and exploiting new deposits is a prerequisite to sustainable mining in Gabon 32 MINING REVIEW AFRICA | MARCH 2015 Kolissen gold project in the Moyen-Ogooué province; the Mavenza gold project, also located in the Moyen Ogooué province; th the Lombo B Bouenguidi gold has significant p project in the political and social stability, O Ogooué-Lolo and is implementing a new p province and th the Camp 6 gold inclusive and sustainable p project in the development model and O Ogooué-Ivindo mining code.” Fabrice Nze-Bekale p province. Formed by a presidential decree in 2011 to facilitate the development of Gabon’s mineral resources, SEM has been undertaking exploration at its four gold exploration Gabon projects, namely the “ Camp 6 update SEM has undertaken prosp prospecting activities for gold, which will expire in March 2016, at the Greenfield Camp 6 gold project since May 2014. While still a Greenfield operation, comprehensive exploration work was previously conducted in this area for iron