Hydroelectric dams account for 76% of Gabon’s power production. The primary sites are located at Tchimbele (69 MW) and Kinguele (58 MW) on the M’Bei River, as well as Poubara on the Ogooue River. Other electricity is produced by gas-fired thermal plants (210 MW) and a heavy-fuel power station (30 MW). Gabon has approximately 6,000 MW of undeveloped hydroelectric potential.
Gabon’s electricity sector is operated by the Société d'Electricité et d’Eaux du Gabon (SEEG). SEEG has been 51% owned by Vivendi (formerly Compagnie Générale des Eaux), a French firm, since 1997. Electricity rates have fallen since that time, largely because Vivendi has led efforts to improve the country’s generating capacity and its transmission/distribution network. The remaining shares of SEEG are owned by SEEG employees (5%) and the public (44%).
SEEG supplies electricity to approximately 520,000 people in Gabon, centered around the cities of Libreville, Port Gentil and the inland city of Franceville. A current investment venture proposes improving the quality of supply and extending electricity to other areas of the country.
In 2002 Gabon's electric generation capacity was 0.4 gigawatts (Gwh) and its electric production was 1.16 billion kilowatthours (Bkwh).
In 1996 the government announced that the utility was to be privatised, and in March 1997 it was announced that a 20-year concession to run the state-owned electricity and water utility (SEEG) had been awarded to Vivendi, a French firm (formerly known as Compagnie Générale des Eaux). The privatisation was the first in sub-Saharan Africa with a commitment from the private operator to future investment in order to upgrade and modernize equipment. Vivendi has a 51 % interest in SEEG, with 44 % on offer to the general public.
