Gabon’s utility challenges: president promises reforms

It is not the first instance the head of state has addressed these critical issues, yet in the current climate, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema committed to a transparent approach. He conveyed that the consistent provision of potable water to household taps across Gabon would not be an immediate resolution, urging Gabonese citizens to exercise patience.

For countless families residing in Greater Libreville and the nation’s interior, fundamental necessities like water and electricity remain frustratingly scarce. Acknowledging the substantial governmental investments made since the Transition period, President Oligui Nguema affirmed that “effective solutions are on the horizon.”

However, the pressing question for many is, when? Time is of the essence, and communities continue to struggle daily without reliable access to these vital services. President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, critical of what he described as disastrous management over the preceding 14 years, pledged to bring an end to this enduring hardship.

Fully aware of the operational shortcomings within the Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon (SEEG), the national energy and water company, the President declared an imminent restructuring involving the division of this public enterprise.

He elaborated that “the SEEG, in its current configuration, lacks the capacity for crucial investments. This necessitates a fundamental reform. The company operates with an excessively large workforce of 2,300 employees, yet counts only 300 engineers and approximately 500 field agents. Therefore, SEEG will be bifurcated into two distinct entities: one dedicated to water management and the other to electricity.”

This comprehensive reform of the company is designed to facilitate a clearer separation and more efficient management of production, distribution, and commercialization processes for both water and electricity services.