• Gabon begins 300 km Alembé–Mikouyi road project to reduce rail reliance and improve regional logistics.

• Funded by BGFIBank and built by Porteo BTP, linking Libreville to central provinces.

• Aims to ease supply disruptions, boost rural access, and create local jobs.
  

Gabon is advancing on the long-awaited Alembé-Mikouyi road development and paving project, a 300-kilometer stretch crossing the provinces of Moyen-Ogooué and Ogooué-Lolo. The project, entrusted to Porteo BTP and financially backed by BGFIBank, aims to offer a sustainable alternative to the country’s overburdened rail system. The railway is currently the main supply route to these regions but is increasingly hindered by aging infrastructure.

Access to inland areas depends heavily on the SETRAG rail line linking Libreville to Franceville. However, this vital corridor faces frequent disruptions from collapses and train derailments. These incidents have caused repeated supply chain breakdowns in recent years, triggering food shortages and forcing authorities to implement temporary airlifts to deliver essentials.

In light of this structural vulnerability, the Alembé-Mikouyi road is emerging as a strategic solution to diversify Gabon’s internal logistics options. The new route will more efficiently connect the capital Libreville, Gabon’s main port and economic hub, to the country’s south-central provinces, while promoting the economic integration of underserved rural areas.

Beyond its economic significance, the road project aligns with broader goals of reducing social inequalities. The route will pass through historically marginalized zones in terms of infrastructure and is expected to improve access to basic services, boost local agriculture, and open up previously isolated production areas.

Construction is set to begin simultaneously at both ends of the route to ensure delivery within the planned 36-month timeframe. According to officials, this approach is intended to have an immediate impact on local mobility while creating both direct and indirect employment for nearby communities.

The road development coincides with a broader modernization program for the national railway network, partly funded by external partners.

This article was written in French by Henoc Dossa,

Edited in English by Mouka Mezonlin