Benin intends to strengthen its presence in the mining sector with the creation of the Société béninoise des mines (SoBeMines) S.A. The decree establishing this new public entity was adopted on Wednesday 7 October 2026 during the Council of Ministers.
This decision comes at a time when the country possesses mineral resources that are still unevenly exploited, and mining constitutes a source of revenue and industrial activity for several economies in the sub-region. Benin possesses several mineral resources, notably limestone, marble, iron, and phosphate.
While some are already being developed, such as limestone used in cement manufacturing, others still present development opportunities. The country could thus draw inspiration from the experience of its neighbor, Togo, which has made phosphate a significant industrial activity with production managed by the Société nouvelle des phosphates du Togo.
The creation of SoBeMines thus occurs in a context where better exploitation of subsoil resources could contribute to diversifying Benin's economic activities and attracting investor interest. See also - With Petroci CI-26, Côte d'Ivoire acquires its first public company specialized in oil production.
In this context, the creation of SoBeMines could allow the Beninese state to play a more structured role in the development of the sector, notably by facilitating the development of certain deposits and fostering potential partnerships with private investors. Such momentum could contribute to mobilizing capital, developing local processing activities, and creating jobs.
However, these benefits remain conditional upon the missions that will effectively be entrusted to the company, as well as the projects it will undertake. The report of the Council of Ministers of 7 October does not yet specify the substances that SoBeMines might exploit, the sites concerned, nor the terms for private investor participation.
The economic scope of this new structure will therefore depend on the orientations adopted for its operationalization. During the same session, the government also adopted the decree creating the Agence Bénin Partenariats et Expertise, intended to coordinate foreign requests for experience sharing and the mobilization of Beninese expertise.
Fanuelle YAO Published on 09/10/26 17:40 The Editorial Staff