Libreville, the capital of Gabon, experienced a significant power outage on Wednesday due to a "major technical incident," according to the national energy provider, the Gabonese Water and Energy Company (SEEG).
The blackout began early morning, causing a complete shutdown of all production facilities within the Libreville Interconnected Network (RIC). SEEG did not provide specific details regarding the cause of the incident. However, by early morning, power was restored to approximately half of the affected customers in the capital. Teams remain actively engaged in diagnosing and resolving the fault.
The outage also disrupted internet and mobile phone services, compounding difficulties faced by residents and businesses. This event follows a period of challenges for Gabon's electricity supply, which confronted extensive infrastructure problems last year resulting in rotating load shedding and prolonged blackouts in various neighborhoods.
In an effort to stabilize the situation, the Gabonese government entered a protocol with Turkish company Karpowership to supply 70 megawatts of power through two floating power plants, improving electricity availability in Libreville in recent months.
On the administrative front, SEEG announced on Wednesday the full transfer of its management back to its majority shareholder, the Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund (FGIS). This transition marks the conclusion of an interim administration which started in August amid ongoing supply issues.
Improving Gabon’s electrical infrastructure remains a top priority for President Brice Oligui Nguema, who ascended to power following a coup in August 2023 and secured overwhelming electoral support in April 2025 with 94.85% of votes. Earlier this month, he reaffirmed his commitment to achieving universal access to electricity and clean drinking water across the country.
