Gabonese president unveils ambitious plan to overhaul power and water services

Addressing a joint session of deputies and senators in Congress, Gabon’s president emphatically declared, “The SEEG must undergo reform if we are to resolve this issue sustainably.” This statement, delivered during his annual address on the state of the Nation, underscored a clear acknowledgment of the current system’s shortcomings, as persistent water and electricity outages continue to plague Gabon after years of disruption.

The presidential proposal rests on a two-pronged strategy: fundamentally separating the management of water from that of electricity, and further disaggregating the functions of production, distribution, and commercialization. This organizational restructuring, according to the head of state, is designed to foster more effective and accountable management across both vital sectors.

Elaborating on the rationale, the president explained, “Currently, a water leak can take up to three months to repair. If the sector’s revenues were directly tied to the quality of water service, interventions would be significantly swifter.” He firmly dismissed the notion that the water sector could not sustain itself without financial support from electricity operations.

The root causes of these widespread dysfunctions, he asserted, stem from “poor governance” within the state-owned utility company. “This moment of truth compels me to be frank with you. Beyond the inherent problems, the continuous load shedding is a direct consequence of SEEG failing to compensate its operators,” the president continued, shedding light on critical financial mismanagement.

However, the responsibility for the crisis is not solely borne by the utility. The head of state also highlighted “user incivism,” detailing detrimental practices such as non-payment of bills, burying electricity meters, widespread fraud, theft of cables, sabotage of transformers, and illegal direct connections to the network.

A stark technical assessment paints an alarming picture. Steve Saurel Legnongo, the provisional administrator for SEEG, indicated in early 2025 that “no significant structural investments have been made in the last two decades,” even as energy consumption demands practically doubled between 2010 and 2024.

The consequences for the general populace have been dire. The capital city, Libreville, experiences regular power outages through a rotating load-shedding system, while water disruptions in some areas can persist for several months.

Subscribers to SEEG offered diverse perspectives when questioned. Mariam Yama, a subscriber, viewed the proposed separation of the two sectors favorably: “If water and electricity are managed separately, it implies two distinct entities focused on service efficiency. I believe this will be beneficial.”

Nicole Esso, however, expressed a more cautious outlook: “This isn’t a new problem. Water and power cuts are rampant in Gabon because equipment upgrades haven’t kept pace. I think we are unnecessarily impatient and pessimistic. The head of state is working on this; we should let him proceed.”

Patrick Ruffin, a retired military officer, pointed directly to financial irregularities, stating, “The management of SEEG absolutely needs an overhaul.”

Cédric Pango, a corporate executive, raised a significant concern: “Within SEEG, it’s well known that the electricity business is more profitable than water. The water sector has been neglected, lacking investment. In that sense, I understand the president’s approach. However, if we separate these activities, with the water sector remaining unprofitable, we risk encountering even greater difficulties than before.”

In recent years, authorities have already implemented measures aimed at “alleviating the distress of the Gabonese people regarding this energy crisis.”

In February 2025, the state formalized a protocol with the Turkish company Karpowership for the supply of 150 megawatts. This power will be generated by two floating electrical plants intended to serve the greater Libreville area. In the same month, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea successfully interconnected their electricity grids.

For President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who came to power via a coup in August 2023 before being elected with 94.85% of votes in April 2025, the successful revitalization of the national power grid is a crucial test of his administration’s credibility.

The announced reforms must now transition into concrete actions, as the residents of Libreville and across the nation eagerly await tangible improvements. Between overcoming formidable technical challenges, navigating complex financial hurdles, and combating widespread fraud, the undertaking is colossal. Yet, for the populace, the question remains straightforward: will the coming weeks finally usher in an end to the incessant outages, or will this mark merely another chapter in an ongoing public service crisis?