Africa Energy

In April 2011 a four-day strike by the National Oil Workers Union (l'Organisation Nationale des Employés du Pétrole, ONEP) caused severe disruptions to oil production across Gabon and cost the government an estimated CFA59bn (€88.5m). Total and Shell’s operations were completely shut down and Tullow Oil experienced severe disruptions. After...

The oil industry has long reflected Gabon’s colonial past, and its close ties with Europe and France in particular. Total was first oil company to begin production in Gabon. Over the years, the French firm has battled back and forth for the distinction of largest producer in the country with Shell, an Anglo-Dutch oil giant. The Italian major ENI...

With its many rivers – including the Ogooué River, the fourth-largest in Africa by volume – Gabon has a total estimated hydroelectricity potential of 6000 MW. Over the past two decades, however, hydropower has declined as the dominant source of electricity in Gabon; no major new dams have been built in more than 30 years, while the demand for power...

While oil was first discovered in Gabon in 1953, it was not until the early 1970s that substantial production began. Since then, the exploitation of petroleum reserves has been the dominant generator of revenue for the Gabonese economy, accounting for around 52% of GDP and 58% of government revenues in 2011.

Oil refining has a long history in Gabon. Société Raffinage du Gabon (SOGARA) was the first refinery in Central Africa and has been in production for nearly half a century. In recent years, however, SOGARA has struggled with outdated equipment, limited capacity and an output that is not suited to local demand. Gabon’s refinery has not been able to...

Peak oil, put simply, refers to the point in time when global oil extraction reaches its maximum capacity. After this point, the rate of production enters into terminal, irreversible decline. As a theory, it has generated more controversy than is perhaps appropriate for what remains a logical statement of fact. That is, oil, like any finite resource...