Gabon’s ambitious utility reform: untangling water and electricity challenges

The president emphasized the critical need for a comprehensive overhaul of SEEG, Gabon’s national utility company, during his annual address on the state of the nation before a joint session of parliament. “A lasting solution to our challenges necessitates a fundamental reform of SEEG,” he declared.

This statement implicitly acknowledged the shortcomings of the existing model, which has consistently failed to prevent years of persistent water and electricity outages across Gabon.

The presidential initiative is built upon two core principles: first, the complete separation of water management from electricity management; and second, the unbundling of production, distribution, and commercialization activities within each sector. According to the head of state, this new organizational structure promises to foster more efficient and accountable operations.

He elaborated on the rationale, stating, “Currently, a water leak can take up to three months to be repaired. If the sector’s revenues were directly tied to the quality of water service delivery, interventions would be significantly swifter.” He explicitly dismissed the notion that the water sector could not sustain itself without cross-subsidization from electricity revenues.

The president attributed the systemic failures to “poor governance” within the state-owned company. He continued, “This moment of truth compels me to be candid. Beyond the technical issues, the persistent load shedding stems from SEEG’s failure to compensate its operators.” This highlights a significant challenge in African governance related to public utilities.

However, the head of state also assigned a portion of the blame to consumers, decrying “user misconduct.” He listed several detrimental practices, including non-payment of bills, burying meters, widespread fraud, theft of cables, sabotage of transformers, and illegal direct connections to the network.

The technical assessment paints a grim picture. Steve Saurel Legnongo, the provisional administrator of SEEG, noted in early 2025 that “no significant structural investments have been made in the past two decades,” even as energy consumption demands nearly doubled between 2010 and 2024. This lack of investment underscores the deep-seated issues facing Gabon’s infrastructure.

The ramifications for the populace are dire. The capital city, Libreville, experiences frequent, scheduled power outages, while water supply disruptions in some areas can persist for several months, severely impacting daily life and highlighting the urgency of the Gabon utility reform.

SEEG subscribers, when interviewed, expressed diverse opinions on the proposed changes. Mariam Yama, a customer, viewed the 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,” she stated.

Nicole Esso, however, adopted a more cautious stance. “This isn’t a new issue. Water and electricity cuts are commonplace in Gabon because equipment upgrades have not kept pace. I believe we are being unnecessarily impatient and pessimistic. The head of state is actively working on this; we should allow him time,” she urged.

Patrick Ruffin, a retired military officer, specifically highlighted financial mismanagement, asserting, “The management of SEEG absolutely needs to be re-evaluated.”

Cédric Pango, a corporate executive, raised a significant reservation. “Within SEEG, it’s widely known that electricity operations are more profitable than water services. The water sector has been neglected, lacking investment. In this regard, I understand the President’s approach. However, if these two activities are separated, and the water sector remains unprofitable, we risk encountering even greater difficulties than before,” he cautioned.

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

Notably, in February 2025, the Gabonese state finalized an agreement with the Turkish company Karpowership for the provision of 150 megawatts. This power will be generated by two floating electricity plants designed to supply the greater Libreville area. In the same month, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea successfully interconnected their national electricity grids, marking a step forward in regional energy cooperation for African current affairs.

For Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who assumed power following a coup d’état in August 2023 and was subsequently elected with 94.85% of votes in April 2025, the revitalization of the electricity network represents a crucial test of his administration’s credibility and commitment to effective African governance.

The ambitious reform program, now officially announced, must swiftly translate into concrete actions as residents of Libreville and across the nation eagerly await tangible improvements in their daily lives.

Navigating the immense technical challenges, significant financial hurdles, and the ongoing battle against widespread fraud will be a colossal undertaking. Yet, for the average citizen, the fundamental question remains straightforward: will the coming weeks finally bring an end to the incessant outages, or will this simply be another chapter in Gabon’s long-standing public utility crisis?