Gabon has oil, timber and manganese as natural resources with a population of 2.3 million. Is the world's third-largest producer of manganese, accounting for some 2.8 million tons in 2020 alone, as an OPEC member, it is the seventh largest crude oil producer in the continent, with an average of almost 200,000 barrels of oil per day. teleSUR
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00:00 Amid the political tension in Gabon, let's review some facts about the African country.
00:04 "Gabon is one of the richest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of per capita GDP
00:11 in 2022.
00:12 It has oil, timber and manganese as natural resources, with a population of 2.3 million.
00:19 It is the world's third largest producer of manganese, accounting for some 2.8 million
00:25 tons in 2020 alone.
00:28 As an OPEC member, it is the seventh largest crude oil producer in the continent, with
00:33 an average of almost 200,000 barrels of oil per day.
00:37 Today, the French company Éramet, which controls most of the manganese mines in Gabon, makes
00:43 France the second largest supplier of manganese in Europe and the fifth largest in the world.
00:50 The volume of agricultural production is insufficient to meet domestic demand, so about 60% of food
00:57 is imported.
00:59 Despite its natural wealth, 45% of the population lives below the poverty line and unemployment
01:05 exceeds 40%, aggravated by limited access to essential public services, deficits in
01:12 food production, health care, clean water and electricity.