• Gabon president demands rapid action as power outages hit Greater Libreville

• SEEG asked to present operational measures and improve transparency

• Power shortages driven by rising demand and aging infrastructure

Gabon's President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has demanded rapid results from the Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon (SEEG) as power outages increase across Greater Libreville, triggering complaints from residents and businesses. The request was made during a meeting at the presidential palace, Gabon Review reported on Wednesday, March 4.

Participants included officials from the state-owned utility, the minister responsible for universal access to water and energy, and representatives of the SUEZ group, which serves as a technical partner for some SEEG activities. The meeting comes amid repeated disruptions to electricity supply in the Gabonese capital and surrounding areas.

According to Gabon Review, the president asked SEEG management to quickly present operational measures to restore reliable service. He also called on the company to improve transparency in its management and better inform customers about problems affecting the power grid.

The request comes as SEEG recently announced the deployment of several technical solutions aimed at reducing power outages in Greater Libreville. According to the Gabonese press, these measures are part of an emergency plan covering the 2025-2028 period. The plan seeks to improve electricity supply through the rehabilitation of existing equipment and increased generation and transmission capacity.

The structural challenges behind persistent load shedding

The rise in load shedding in Gabon, particularly in Greater Libreville, reflects several structural weaknesses affecting the national power system. Authorities cite a persistent imbalance between electricity supply and demand, as well as technical and financial constraints accumulated over many years.

According to data cited in a 2024 analysis by Bio-Ressources, electricity demand in Gabon grows by about 5% annually, driven by population growth and urbanization. At the same time, the country’s installed capacity reached around 704 MW in 2023, while actual demand was estimated at more than 1,000 MW that year.

Several studies also identify aging infrastructure as a key factor. In a 2024 analysis published by Gabon Media Time, sector experts pointed to more than two decades of underinvestment in electricity infrastructure. This situation has led to significant technical losses and increased fragility of the power grid.

The country’s electricity mix also creates vulnerabilities. As reported by Ecofin Agency, nearly half of Gabon’s electricity generation comes from hydropower, making the system sensitive to hydrological fluctuations and periods of low water levels at dams.

Abdel-Latif Boureima