• Gabon signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Italy’s Todini Costruzioni Generali for two hydropower projects in Booué and Tsengué-Lélédi.
• The combined cost of the projects is estimated at $1.78 billion, according to the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).
• The projects form part of a 2025–2027 government plan to curb chronic power outages and strengthen domestic generation capacity.

Gabon has signed an agreement with Italy’s Todini Costruzioni Generali S.p.A to develop two hydropower dams as part of its push to resolve persistent electricity shortages.

The memorandum of understanding, signed on October 6, 2025, marks a new stage in Gabon’s energy diversification plan aimed at stabilizing electricity supply and reducing reliance on thermal plants.

The two installations will be located in Booué (northeast) and Tsengué-Lélédi (central Gabon). According to the Société d’Énergie et d’Eau du Gabon (SEEG), the country’s power mix currently relies on a hydro-thermal balance, with existing dams — Kinguélé, Tchimbélé, Poubara, Bongolo and Médouneu — providing about 40% of national electricity output.

The MoU with Todini focuses on preparatory studies that will define the technical, environmental, and regulatory framework for the projects. Authorities have not yet disclosed the expected capacity, timeline, or detailed financing structure.

The Ministry of Energy said the studies will precede any investment decision and determine the scope of construction.

According to the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the combined cost of the Booué–Tsengué-Lélédi complex could reach $1.78 billion.

The government plans to mobilize funding through a mix of public investment and private partnerships once the feasibility phase concludes.

Gabon has faced recurrent power outages in recent months, prompting emergency measures. Authorities contracted Karpowership to supply 70 MW of additional capacity and temporarily imported 10 MW from Equatorial Guinea to stabilize the grid.

Officials say the new hydropower projects will help reduce dependence on fuel-fired plants and ensure more reliable domestic production in the medium term.

The government expects to receive the technical, environmental, and economic study results before committing funds to the projects. Once validated, the hydropower sites could become key assets in Gabon’s long-term energy security strategy.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum