Gabon eyes future post-Bongo

Sovereignty is the watchword for the new government, but there are still upstream opportunities for those willing to work closely with the state

Gabon’s formerly transitional president and leader of the 2023 coup d’etat, Brice Oligui Nguema, may have brushed aside his rivals in April’s election, but he faces a much tougher task reviving the fortunes of the country’s oil and gas sector. Since 1996, domestic crude production has declined by roughly 37%. Last year, volumes closed out the year averaging around 230,000b/d, marginally better than 2023 but still below the forecast outlined in the government’s 2024 Finance Act. This was primarily due to operational problems, including a fire at Franco-British firm Perenco’s Becuna platform. “Gabon was increasingly peripheral in its portfolio, and the sale will help with its attempts to