Gabon has embarked on a significant overhaul of its public utility services by formally dividing the management of water and electricity. On June 25, 2026, the Council of Ministers approved two legislative proposals establishing two new mixed-economy companies: ”Gabonaise des Eaux”, dedicated to potable water supply, and ”Électricité du Gabon”, focused on electricity provision. This marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s infrastructure development.
This decision to dismantle the integrated structure of the Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon (SEEG) reflects the government’s strategic shift towards specialization. Under this new framework, each operator will have a distinct scope of activity and clearly defined responsibilities. Such an organizational model is expected to streamline investment processes and significantly enhance service quality for citizens. Gabon’s move aligns with a broader trend seen across the African continent. For instance, Sénégal has entrusted water services to Sen’Eau and electricity generation to Senelec. Similarly, Côte d’Ivoire’s water and power distribution are managed by SODECI and CIE, respectively. In Maroc, the ONEE maintains separate, autonomous divisions for these two essential activities, specifically to optimize financial management and investment allocation.
Throughout regions where this specialization model has been implemented, it has consistently led to clearer accountability, strengthened operator governance, and fostered an environment conducive to the sustained improvement of essential services for consumers. The expectation is that Gabon’s former SEEG, now split, will experience similar positive outcomes, with the hope that the management of these two forthcoming entities will transcend the challenges observed under the previous unified structure.
