Energy in Gabon
Encyclopedia
Energy in Gabon is an industry
with plenty of potential.
is the fourth-largest oil
producer in sub-Saharan Africa, in India, and has the region's third-largest oil reserves. Oil prospecting began in 1931. Deposits were found on the coast or off shore in the vicinity of Libreville
and Port-Gentil
, in the northwestern part of the country. Later, large deposits were found in the south. Oil from the northwest is channeled by pipeline to Cape Lopez, where there are loading facilities for export. Huge additional deposits were found on Mandji Island in 1962. The Rabi Kounga oil field is Gabon's largest oil field. In 1997, it produced a peak of 217000 oilbbl/d. As of November 2004, it was producing 55000 oilbbl/d.
The national oil company is Société Nationale Petrolière Gabonaise
. The government of Gabon controls petroleum and mineral rights within the state.
reserves rose from 1300 Moilbbl in 1996 to 2500 Moilbbl in 2004, the government is concerned about long-term depletion of resources. Total production of crude oil fell from a peak of 371000 oilbbl/d day to an estimated 289700 oilbbl/d in 2003. Gabon's production goes primarily to Argentina
, Brazil
, France
, the United States
, and, more recently, Taiwan
. Net oil exports in 2003 are estimated at 289,680 barrels per day.
As of January 2004, reserves of natural gas reserves estimated at 1.2 Tcuft, by the Oil & Gas Journal
. Production and consumption of natural gas in 2002 were estimated at 3 Gcuft, each. Gross output stood at 81.22 Gcuft in 2002, of which 55.09 Gcuft was flared or vented off, and 19.42 Gcuft was reinjected.
dams on the Mbei River and at the Petite Poubara Dam, near Makokou
on the Ogooué. Production and distribution of electricity are maintained by the Energy and Water Company of Gabon (SEEG), which was formed in 1963 and incorporates a number of smaller private and quasi-public entities. In 2002, electric power output totalled an estimated 1.16 TWh, with capacity estimated as of January 2002 at 406 MW. Consumption of electricity
was 1.275 TWh in 2002. Natural gas
is the principal fuel for the thermal plants.
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
with plenty of potential.
Oil
GabonGabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
is the fourth-largest oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
producer in sub-Saharan Africa, in India, and has the region's third-largest oil reserves. Oil prospecting began in 1931. Deposits were found on the coast or off shore in the vicinity of Libreville
Libreville
Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
and Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil
Port-Gentil or Mandji is the second-largest city of Gabon and a leading seaport. It is the center of Gabon's petroleum and timber industries. Although it lies inshore, the nearby mainland is a remote forest area and it is not connected by road to the rest of the nation...
, in the northwestern part of the country. Later, large deposits were found in the south. Oil from the northwest is channeled by pipeline to Cape Lopez, where there are loading facilities for export. Huge additional deposits were found on Mandji Island in 1962. The Rabi Kounga oil field is Gabon's largest oil field. In 1997, it produced a peak of 217000 oilbbl/d. As of November 2004, it was producing 55000 oilbbl/d.
The national oil company is Société Nationale Petrolière Gabonaise
Société Nationale Petrolière Gabonaise
Société Nationale Petrolière Gabonaise is the national petroleum company of Gabon. The government of Gabon controls petroleum and mineral rights within the state.-Operations:...
. The government of Gabon controls petroleum and mineral rights within the state.
Petroleum
Although Gabon's proven petroleumPetroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
reserves rose from 1300 Moilbbl in 1996 to 2500 Moilbbl in 2004, the government is concerned about long-term depletion of resources. Total production of crude oil fell from a peak of 371000 oilbbl/d day to an estimated 289700 oilbbl/d in 2003. Gabon's production goes primarily to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and, more recently, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Net oil exports in 2003 are estimated at 289,680 barrels per day.
As of January 2004, reserves of natural gas reserves estimated at 1.2 Tcuft, by the Oil & Gas Journal
Oil & Gas Journal
The Oil & Gas Journal is a leading petroleum industry weekly publication with a worldwide coverage. It is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the journal has a major presence in Houston, Texas. The journal is published by PennWell Corporation. Its publisher is Paul Westervelt, Vice President of...
. Production and consumption of natural gas in 2002 were estimated at 3 Gcuft, each. Gross output stood at 81.22 Gcuft in 2002, of which 55.09 Gcuft was flared or vented off, and 19.42 Gcuft was reinjected.
Hydropower
Hydropower accounts for 76% of Gabon's electric power output. In 2002 there were hydroelectric stations at the Kinguélé and TchimbéléTchimbélé
Tchimbélé is a waterfall in the Woleu-Ntem area of northwestern Gabon. The waterfall is fed by the Komo River and is located west of the settlement of Anzem.A reservoir is located in the area.-References:*...
dams on the Mbei River and at the Petite Poubara Dam, near Makokou
Makokou
Makokou is the regional capital of the Ogooué-Ivindo province in Gabon. Its coordinates are . Its altitude is 308 m. Its population in 2004 is around 16,600.The city lies on the Ivindo River and the N4 road...
on the Ogooué. Production and distribution of electricity are maintained by the Energy and Water Company of Gabon (SEEG), which was formed in 1963 and incorporates a number of smaller private and quasi-public entities. In 2002, electric power output totalled an estimated 1.16 TWh, with capacity estimated as of January 2002 at 406 MW. Consumption of electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
was 1.275 TWh in 2002. Natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
is the principal fuel for the thermal plants.