Gabon Boosts Energy Power Generation
7 March 2012
Voice of America - March 6, 2012
Gabon has launched a rigorous initiative to revamp the energy sector to meet investors’ demands as well as the needs of the population, said Patrick Rodrigue Yalis Ongala, the director of electricity at Gabon’s Energy Ministry and Hydroelectric Resources.
“There was a high rise in demand from the local population as well as industries. That’s why the government decided to upgrade [older] dams and is now constructing new ones,” said Ongala.
Officials say energy demand in the capital, Libreville, and surrounding areas is 183 Megawatts (MW) with an expected annual increase in demand of between 6-8 percent. To meet growing electricity energy needs, Ongala said, the administration plans to increase power production from 374 MW to 1200 MW by 2020.
The aim, he said, is to make electricity available to everyone. Ongala said excess power will be exported to neighboring countries in Central Africa.
He said to meet the administration’s energy objectives, the government will build new hydro-electric dams, gas powered thermal plants and a heavy fuel power station.
Category: Energy