# Belinga

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{{Short description|Location in Gabon}}
'''Belinga''' is a location in [Gabon](/source/Gabon) with as yet unexploited [iron ore](/source/iron_ore) deposits.  These ore deposits extend into neighbouring [Cameroon](/source/Cameroon) and [Congo](/source/Republic_of_Congo).

== Mining ==
The Belinga iron reserves were discovered in 1895.<ref>William Adams Hance, ''The Geography of Modern Africa'' (1975), page 304.</ref><ref name=Yates>Douglas A. Yates, "Gabon", in ''Africa Yearbook: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara 2006'' (2007), page 257.</ref> They are estimated to hold about one billion tons of iron ore.<ref name=Yates/>

Iron ore mining was expected to start in 2011<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-17 |title=Good news for Gabon iron ore |url=http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-25_2131461 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131111232503/http://web.archive.org/web/20110711003937/http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Good-news-for-Gabon-iron-ore-20070617 |archive-date=2013-11-11 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=Fin24: Economy}}</ref> but due to a lack of financing the project was currently on hold.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.banktrack.org/show/dodgydeals/belinga_iron_ore_project |title=BankTrack.org - dodgydeals - Belinga iron ore project |access-date=2011-11-01 |archive-date=2011-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718024719/http://www.banktrack.org/show/dodgydeals/belinga_iron_ore_project |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Because of slowness in getting the project started, the Chinese rights may be in 2012 given to [BHP](/source/BHP).<ref>{{cite news |title=UPDATE: Mining Rights to Gabon's Belinga Iron Ore Deposit in BHP Billiton's Hands Soon |url=http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/290110/20120131/australia-gabon-africa-china-iron-ore-bhp.htm#.U-9Q4vmSxZs |accessdate=16 August 2014 |work=[International Business Times](/source/International_Business_Times) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204015044/http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/290110/20120131/australia-gabon-africa-china-iron-ore-bhp.htm#.U-9Q4vmSxZs |archivedate=4 February 2012 }}</ref>

In 2023, [Fortescue](/source/Fortescue_(company)) started exporting two million tonnes of ore using road and rail transport to reach the port of [Owendo](/source/Owendo). <ref> [https://www.australianresourcesandinvestment.com.au/2023/02/08/belinga-iron-ore-mine-to-start-second-half-of-2023/ Belinga iron ore] </ref>

== Transport ==

A 237&nbsp;km long railway branch line is proposed branching from [Booue](/source/Booue) to enable these deposits to be exploited. As the tonneages hauled will be greatly increased, this line may also extend to a port at [Santa Clara](/source/Santa_Clara%2C_Gabon) which would extend the railway to 560&nbsp;km.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-162298942.html China to build Gabon railway.(News)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The town is near the [Republic of Congo](/source/Republic_of_Congo) and [Cameroon](/source/Cameroon) borders.

== See also ==

* Iron ore in Africa
* [Railway stations in Gabon](/source/Railway_stations_in_Gabon)

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|01|08|00|N| 13|07|00|E|region:GA_type:city|display=title}}

Category:Geography of Gabon

{{Gabon-geo-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Belinga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinga) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinga?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.