Gabon signs carbon credit deal for 6 million tonnes
Gabon becomes the first African nation to sell certified forest preservation credits eligible for international aviation emissions compensation.
Gabon has signed its first agreements to sell jurisdictional carbon credits, committing to approximately 6 million tonnes of CO2 with Germany's state-owned energy company SEFE. The deals, announced on November 3, 2026, by the Presidency's spokesperson Théophane Nzame-Nze Biyoghe, aim to generate new revenue streams from forest preservation. First deliveries are expected by the first quarter of 2027.
These credits are certified under the ART-TREES standard and are eligible for CORSIA, the international aviation emissions compensation mechanism. The transactions are described as 'jurisdictional', meaning they are accounted for at a national or administrative territory level. Gabon's government stated that the country is not selling its land or forests, but rather carbon units, with ownership and management remaining with the state.
The financial details of the agreements, including the price per tonne and the total expected revenue, were not disclosed in the announcement. The net sums returning to the state will depend on the negotiated financial terms and distribution arrangements. The revenues will be held in a dedicated account until a national regulatory framework is established.
Why it mattersGabon's government aims to generate revenue for economic diversification through the sale of carbon credits derived from forest conservation.