Natural resources, energy and environment
Gabon has rich natural resources. In addition
to oil, manganese, uranium and some gold are extracted.
In addition, there are significant iron deposits in the
country's hard-to-reach interior, as well as assets of
lead, zinc, and marble. Furthermore, there are large
forests, which provide timber.
Oil is mainly extracted by foreign companies, mainly
at sea. The traditional oil wells have begun, but the
discovery of new, smaller oil wells, which have
gradually been put into use with foreign capital, means
that the oil can last for 50 years. Almost all oil is
exported as crude oil, mainly to the USA, China and
France. Gabon has been, but is no longer, a member of
the oil-producing countries' cooperative organization,
Opec.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Major exports by Gabon with a full list of the top products exported by the country. Includes trade value in U.S. dollars and the percentage for each product category.
There are also hopes of gas supplies in the sea.
For the extraction of other minerals such as
manganese and iron ore, it looks bright through new
investments in these industries. Prospects show that
Gabon may have the world's largest yet unexploded iron
ore deposit, in Belinga in the northeast. However,
several organizations have sued companies that conduct
mining operations to the extent that their activities
have a negative impact on people's environment and
health.
The conditions for hydropower are good. Hydroelectric
power stations account for just over half of the
country's electricity generation. The rest comes from
oil and natural gas. However, a large part of the
population lacks access to electricity and even in
cities such as Libreville, the electricity supply can be
frivolous. In the countryside, wood is used extensively
for cooking and heating.
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Abbreviationfinder: A popular acronym site in the world covering abbreviation for each country. For example, GA stands for Gabon.
Gabon has about 13 percent of the Central African
forest population and one of the largest populations of
the african African elephant. The wood elephant's
pastures are considered to be of a very high quality and
are therefore particularly sought after. Between 2004
and 2012, 11,000 elephants were killed by poachers,
according to a report compiled by the Gabon National
Park Authority in collaboration with the World Wildlife
Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
FACTS - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Energy use per person
3 007 kilograms of oil equivalent (2014)
Electricity consumption per person
1304 kWh, kWh (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions in total
5 192,000 tonnes (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions per inhabitant
2.8 tonnes (2014)
The share of energy from renewable sources
82.0 percent (2015)
2014
December
Violent protests against the president
At least one person is killed and an unknown number injured in protests
against President Bongo. At least 20 people are arrested. According to the
opposition party Front for Change, three protesters are killed. The opposition
calls for new protests throughout the country. The demonstration in Libreville
has been banned by the Home Office. Tensions have risen in the country since a
journalist published a book in which the president is accused of falsifying his
birth certificate and academic grades.
January
New Prime Minister
President Bongo appoints Daniel Ona Ondo as Prime Minister. He has most
recently been Deputy Speaker of Parliament and has previously held several
government assignments, including as Minister of Education and Culture.
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