Gabon unveils new 130 million euros port

Few weeks to the presidential election in Gabon, President Ali Bongo Ondimba, inaugurated a new harbour at the outskirts of Libreville port on Wednesday.

The cost of the construction of the harbour is reported to be more than 130 million euros.

Bongo diversified economic partners of Gabon since he was elected in 2009 after the death of his father.

He also took measures to remove the country from its dependence on oil resources that make up its wealth since the 1970s.

Sectors such as construction, forestry and mining, have attracted investors, including Asians.

The new port, already in service, includes an ore terminal used for manganese, of which the country is the world’s 2nd largest producer, and a versatile terminal for the storage and transit of aggregates (sand, gravel, wood processing products, etc…).

In total, the GSEZ, Gabon Special Economic Zone, was said to have invested about 450 million euros for the construction of the ore port and a commercial port (containers and cargo) which should be functional from 2017.

Ali Bongo Ondimba is running for a second term in the presidential election on August 27.