Gabon: Oligui Nguema inaugurates Batanga gas plant
On Friday 8 December, the President of the Transition, Brigadier General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, inaugurated the Batanga gas plant belonging to the Perenco oil group, in the department of Etimboué.
«After symbolically cutting the ribbon and unveiling the official plaque, the Head of State urged those in charge to do more to satisfy the needs of as many people as possible», says the presidential press release.
The Perenco group has been present in Gabon for several years through its subsidiary Perenco Oil & Gas Gabon (POGG), which covers an area of 2 hectares and generates more than 750 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs.
As Gabon’s strategic partner, leading oil operator and sole player in commercial gas, the Perenco group has invested heavily to develop onshore gas fields, which currently produce more than 50 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
This investment has made it possible to develop a 450 km high-pressure pipeline network from the Ozangué fields in Ngounié to Libreville, via Batanga and Port-Gentil, where the natural gas processing, compression and expansion stations are located.
As a result of the investments made by POGG, 100% of the gas is supplied to Port-Gentil and 70% to Libreville.
As part of its CSR policy, the company provides free electricity to the surrounding villages.
Gabon imports 50% of its energy, so this plant will help to reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
The commissioning of this plant by the President of the CTRI is the first phase of an ambitious project by the Gabonese authorities and Perenco, who will be pursuing the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Cap Lopez and a 100 MW gas-fired power station at Mayumba.
According to the Oil Minister, this is a strong message to investors.
Yann ETERNEL
