Gabon: Gabon Transportation Profile

• Better Libreville Management and Planning scheme
• Power – Infrastructure (estimated cost: XAF 1,504 billion/US$3.008 billion)
• Transport – Infrastructure: roads, railways, ports (estimated cost: XAF1763 billion/US$3.530 billion)
• Development of the mining sector (estimated cost: XAF1630 billion/US$3.260 billion)
• Development of the tourism sector (estimated cost: XAF43 billion/US$85 million)
• Mandji island Appropriate Economic Zone
• Establishment of the National Agency for Major Works (XAF170 billion/US$340 million)

Railways in Gabon

Until the 1970s, Gabon had no railroads. A 936 km railroad construction program, the Trans-Gabon Railway, began in October 1974. In its initial stage, completed in 1983, the project linked the port of Owendo with the interior city of Booué (332 km). The second stage, completed in December 1986, linked Booué with Franceville (357 km) via Moanda, thus facilitating exports of manganese from the southeast and forestry exploitation in the same region. A proposed third stage would continue the line from Booué to Belinga in the northeast, where there are iron ore deposits.

In 2003 the railway began the process of installing a satellite based telecommunications system.As of 2004, Gabon National Railways totalled 814 km of standard-gauge track.

total: 814 km (Gabon National Railways or OCTRA)
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)

Cities served by rail

Existing

Libreville - capital
Owendo - port
Sahoué - port
Franceville - railhead
Ndjolé
Lopé
Booué - likely junction for branchline to Makokou
Lastoursville
Moanda
Ntoum - proposed junction for iron ore traffic to Santa Clara
Kango
Four-Place
Mounana - ?

Water transport

Seaports and harbours

The busiest ports are Port-Gentil, the center for exports of petroleum products and imports of mining equipment, and Owendo, a new port that opened in 1974 on the Ogooué estuary, 10 km north of Libreville. Owendo’s capacity, initially 300,000 tons, reached 1.5 million tons in 1979, at the same time as the port was enlarged to include timber-handling facilities. The smaller port at Mayumba as well handles timber, and a deepwater port is planned for the city.

Merchant marine

In 1998, Gabon’s merchant marine owned two vessels totalling 13,613 GRT. As of 2002, there was one merchant marine. As of 2003, Gabon had 1,600 km of perennially navigable waterways, inclunding 310 km on the Ogooué River. total: 1 ship (with a volume of 1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over) totaling 2,419 GRT/3,205 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
ships by type: cargo ship 1 (1999 est.)

Waterways

Gabon has 1,600 km of perennially navigable waterways

Air transport

Gabon had an estimated 56 airports in 2004, but only 11 of which had paved runways as of 2005. There are three international airports: Libreville, Port-Gentil, and Franceville. Numerous airlines provide international flights. Nouvelle Air Affaires Gabon handles scheduled domestic service. In 2003, about 386,000 passengers were carried on scheduled domestic and international airline flights.

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km