Gabon s wind power storage requirements

To achieve climate agreements, and meet its growing energy demands, Gabon is approaching energy planning through a different process. Think of the resources available in Gabon to drive its economic development and what most likely comes to mind is oil, and timber.

Nonetheless, World Bank studies indicate that by 2040, Gabon will require an installed capacity of at least 1,250MW. However, closer to 1,850MW will be needed to power industrialisation where new processing enterprises will transform Gabon's natural riches such as timber, manganese, and iron, which are currently exported as raw materials.

In a country 90% covered by forest and by thousands of waterways which receive significant rainfall nine months of the year, that means hydropower. Already, hydropower provides more than half (51%) of Gabon's current 2,000GWh of electricity per year, from an installed capacity of 720MW.

As a would-be emerging nation looking at diversifying and sustainably growing its economy, Gabon faces the challenge of simultaneously meeting increasing energy demand to improve socioeconomic conditions and protecting biodiversity and resilient ecosystem services into the future.

The opportunities are immense, but so are the demands. Gabon's urban population is growing at 3.3% annually, and we have committed to increasing the energy access for rural populations, whose current 38% electrification rate is meagre compared to urban areas, which have a rate of above 80%.

Think of the resources available in Gabon to drive its economic development and what most likely comes to mind is oil, and timber. There is no doubt both have helped the country to become one of Africa's wealthiest nations, with a GDP per capita of around $7,667 in 2019 as per the World Bank.