Addressing a joint session of parliament, the president underscored the critical need for a fundamental overhaul of SEEG, Gabon’s national water and electricity company. He declared, “SEEG must be reformed if we are to permanently resolve the issue.”

This statement signals an acknowledgment that the existing operational model has faltered, especially as residents across Gabon have endured years of persistent water and power outages.

The presidential initiative is structured around two core principles: first, separating the management of water services from electricity services; and second, disassociating the functions of production, distribution, and commercialization within each sector. According to the head of state, this organizational restructuring promises a more accountable and efficient system.

Illustrating the current inefficiencies, he explained, “Today, a water leak can take up to three months to repair. If the sector’s revenue were directly tied to the quality of water service, interventions would be significantly swifter.” He firmly refuted the notion that the water sector could not sustain itself without subsidies from electricity revenues.

The president attributed many operational failures to “poor governance” within the public company. He continued, “This moment of truth compels me to be frank with you. Beyond the underlying problems, continuous load shedding occurs because SEEG fails to compensate its operators.”

However, the responsibility for these issues is not solely with the company; consumers also play a part. The head of state criticized “user misconduct,” citing detrimental practices such as non-payment of bills, concealment of meters, fraud, cable theft, transformer sabotage, and illegal direct connections.

A technical assessment paints a grim picture. Steve Saurel Legnongo, SEEG’s interim administrator, noted in early 2025 that “no significant infrastructure investments have been made in the last two decades,” even as energy consumption demands nearly doubled between 2010 and 2024.

These systemic failures have dire consequences for the populace. The capital, Libreville, faces regular rotating power cuts, while water interruptions in some areas can last for several months.

SEEG subscribers offer varied perspectives on the proposed changes. Mariam Yama, a subscriber, views the separation of the two sectors positively: “If water and electricity are managed separately, it implies two entities focused on service efficiency. I believe this is a good step.”

Nicole Esso expressed a more cautious stance: “This isn’t a new problem. Water and power cuts are rampant in Gabon because equipment upgrades haven’t kept pace. I think we’re being unnecessarily impatient and pessimistic. The head of state is working on this; we should let him proceed.”

Patrick Ruffin, a retired military officer, emphasized financial accountability, stating, “The management of SEEG must be re-evaluated.”

Cédric Pango, a corporate executive, raised a significant concern: “Within SEEG, it’s understood that electricity operations are more profitable than water. The water sector has been neglected without investment. In that sense, I understand the head of state’s approach. However, if we separate these two activities and the water sector remains unprofitable, we risk encountering more difficulties than before.”

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

In February 2025, the State finalized an agreement with the Turkish company Karpowership for the provision of 150 megawatts through two floating power plants designed to supply Greater Libreville. That same month, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea successfully interconnected their electrical grids.

For Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, who assumed power via a coup in August 2023 before being elected with 94.85% of the votes in April 2025, rectifying the electrical network is a crucial test of his credibility.

The announced reform now requires concrete implementation, as residents in Libreville and throughout the nation eagerly await tangible improvements.

Navigating technical hurdles, financial challenges, and the fight against fraud, the undertaking is monumental. Yet, for the population, the question remains straightforward: will the coming weeks finally mark an end to the recurrent outages, or will this simply be another chapter in a chronic public service crisis?