- Owendo Mineral Port (OMP) will install a 1.56 MWp solar system 21km from Libreville.
- The project includes solar panels in workshops, reducing annual CO2 emissions by over 1,700 tonnes.
Owendo Mineral Port (OMP) is going green by installing a 1.56 MWp solar system strategically 21 kilometres from Libreville. The initiative, a collaboration between Arise Ports & Logistics, Meridiam, and the Gabonese government, aims to solarise the port’s facilities. The project includes a 1.56 MWp solar panel system and a 1 MW battery electricity storage system, mainly on the port’s workshop roofs. This eco-friendly move aims to cut over 1,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions yearly and optimise operational costs.
The $2.6 million project is funded by partnering with British International Investment (BII). Geoffrey Manley, BII’s Director of Energy Access, said the project aligns with the commitment to a net-zero portfolio by 2050. An energy audit, part of BII’s financing, discloses that OMP’s electricity demand is approximately 7,730 MWh. This highlights the potential for further solarisation. OMP plans to electrify its mechanical equipment and transport vehicles for sustainable development.
OMP’s shift to a low-CO2 economy aligns with Gabon’s national vision, aiming to reduce carbon emissions through hybrid solar power plants. Gabon aims to save 3,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. This contributes to the Caisse de Dépôts et de Consignations (CDC) energy policy. It is targeting 1,200 MW by 2025, with 80 per cent from renewable energies and 20 per cent from thermal energies, mainly gas.