Gabon has initiated a sweeping reform of its public utilities by separating water and electricity management. On 25 June 2026, the Council of Ministers approved two bills establishing the “Gabonaise des Eaux” and “Électricité du Gabon”, both mixed-economy companies responsible for drinking water and electricity respectively.
By dismantling the integrated model of the Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon (SEEG), the government is opting for specialisation. Each operator will now operate within a clearly defined scope, with better-identified responsibilities. This structure is expected to ease investments and enhance service quality. Yet Gabon is not alone in this move. Senegal entrusted water to Sen’Eau and electricity to Senelec. In Côte d’Ivoire, SODECI and CIE share these tasks. Morocco’s ONEE maintains separate branches for water and electricity to improve financial management and investment.
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Wherever this specialisation has been implemented, it has clarified responsibilities, strengthened operator governance, and created a more favourable environment for sustainable improvements in user services. For the SEEG, the same is likely true, with the hope that the management of these two future entities will no longer reflect the current situation.
