A junta that seized power in OPEC-member state Gabon appointed Marcel Abeke, a former executive of French miner Eramet (ERMT.PA) as the country’s new petrol minister on Saturday.
Abeke was an executive of the company which operates a manganese mine in Gabon until March last year when he was appointed to a new 12-person high commission in charge of evaluating and implementing government action.
Gabon’s economy is largely dependent on oil exports for revenue. It produces around 200,000 barrels a day (bpd) of crude oil, making it the second-smallest OPEC producer.
Among other ministers announced by transitional prime minister Raymond Ndong Sima are Colonel Maurice Tocui as environment minister, replacing British-Gabonese conservationist Lee White.
Tocui will now oversee Gabon’s ambitious green agenda, including its recent debt-for-nature swap to fund marine conservation.
Other key appointments to the cabinet of 26 ministers, compared with the ousted government of 46, include Mays Mouissi, a Paris-based economist and consultant, as economy minister, and Brigadier-General Brigitte Onkanowa as minister delegate at the presidency in charge of defence.
The junta had previously appointed former opposition leader, Ndong Sima, as prime minister of the transitional government.
