• Since peak production in 1997, oil output in Gabon has declined by one-third, as large oil fields have matured. Consequently, Gabon has fallen from the third largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa to the sixth.
• After two decades without a national oil company, the Gabon Oil Company was established in June 2011 to increase the government's involvement in new oil production.
• Brazil's offshore pre-salt discoveries have piqued investor interest in Gabon's pre-salt potential. Since 2011, there have been a few discoveries; however, appraisal and exploratory drilling will continue to determine whether field development at those sites is economically viable.
• About 90 percent of natural gas produced in Gabon is either flared and vented or reinjected to boost oil output. Over the last five years, there has been some progress in building pipelines to connect a few associated gas fields to onshore power plants, but there are no firm project commitments to continue to expand infrastructure and monetize additional gas output.
• Gabon has the potential to harness 6,000 megawatts (MW) of hydroelectricity. Several hydropower plants have been proposed, but progress has been slow, with the exception of the 160-MW Poubara hydroelectric dam that is expected to come online this year. However, tapping into this potential could leave the country vulnerable to unfavorable weather patterns, as low rainfall has triggered power blackouts in the past.

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Analysis Last Updated: February 13, 2013