Clean Electricity Helps Gabon's Economic and Social Development | Hydropower Stations | Economic and Social
Exterior view of the dam blocking the Dabaha Hydroelectric Power Station in Gabon.
Photo by Gautier Musawu
The Ogove River, the mother river of Gabon, meanders for about 1200 kilometers. Rivers cross plateaus and plains, with abundant water resources. Over the past 10 years, the Dabubaha hydropower station built by Chinese enterprises on the Ogove River has generated over 2.5 billion kilowatt hours of cumulative electricity, ensuring that nearby mining enterprises no longer suffer from power shortages and meeting the electricity demand of surrounding areas, contributing to the early realization of Gabon's "emerging Gabon" goal.
Gabon is a major producer and exporter of manganese ore worldwide, and the southeastern city of Fransville is known as the "City of Mines". In the 1980s, a large amount of local ore was exported to the world, and some international mining companies also invested in building factories in Gabon. While the local mining industry is developing rapidly, the issue of power shortage is also becoming increasingly prominent. Since its operation in 2013, the Dabubaha Hydropower Station, constructed by China Hydropower Construction Group International Engineering Co., Ltd., has helped to increase the total installed capacity of electricity in Gabon from 540 megawatts to 700 megawatts, providing a continuous source of electricity for the economic development and industrialization process of the city of Fransville in the upper reaches of the Ogove River and surrounding areas.
At the age of 43, Audi has been working in the Dabaha Hydroelectric Power Project Department for over 10 years. In 2007, when he heard on the radio that Chinese companies had signed an agreement with the Gabonese government to build the Dabaha Hydroelectric Power Station project, he traveled to Fransville and worked hard to secure the opportunity to work here. Afterwards, under the guidance of Yang Weimin, the head of the work area, Audi learned welding technology and was recommended as the team leader, responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of small machinery on the construction site. After the hydropower station was put into operation, Audi was hired as the welding supervisor, responsible for the welding work of the hydropower station.
Audi's wife Germani runs a small shop near the hydroelectric power station employee village. "We opened a shop using the salary earned by Oledi, which not only served the staff of the hydropower station but also increased our family's income." Speaking of her current life, Hermann's face showed a bright smile. The couple's monthly income is approximately 7000 yuan, which is above average in Gabon. "Our child will never drop out of school like Audi. We want him to go to college and learn mechanical engineering technology."
In the local area, hydropower projects have provided a good life for many people like Audi. The project department holds annual commendations for outstanding employees and often provides professional training for local employees. The supervisor in charge of organizing training, Steele, said that many local employees have learned the methods and techniques of engineering construction through participating in hydropower station construction, accumulated rich experience, and have certain advantages in finding jobs in the future.
At the same time as constructing the Dabaha Hydropower Station, China Hydropower Construction Group International Engineering Co., Ltd. also undertook the Gabonese power grid renovation project, including the construction of three new substations, expansion of three existing substations, installation of two overhead transmission lines, and burial of three underground cable transmission lines. Former Minister of Mines of Gabon, Christian Maniania, said, "Gabon's mining industry has developed rapidly in recent years, thanks to significant improvements in infrastructure. The construction of the Dabaha hydropower station by Chinese enterprises has made an important contribution to solving the national electricity supply."
To accelerate the development strategy of "emerging Gabon", Gabon has established the development direction of "green Gabon, industrial Gabon, and service industry Gabon". Among them, improving power supply is one of the key links to achieve "industrial Gabon". According to a recent report released by the World Bank, the electricity penetration rate in Gabon has reached 91.6%. "The improvement of electricity supply has met the growing demand for electricity and injected vitality into Gabon's development." Gabonese President Bongo said that the construction of the Dabbaha hydropower station is an important achievement of the government's decision to build water infrastructure, greatly promoting local economic and social development and improving people's livelihoods. It is hoped that Gabon and China will continue to deepen practical cooperation in infrastructure and other fields under the framework of jointly building the "the Belt and Road" in the future and produce more fruitful results.
