Karpowership, a Turkish company specializing in floating power plants, has become a key player in Gabon’s energy landscape. According to Evans Damada, the company’s country director, its vessels anchored off Libreville and Port-Gentil now supply 150 megawatts to the national grid—covering nearly 25% of the country’s available electricity capacity. This substantial contribution highlights both the persistent fragility of Gabon’s power infrastructure and the urgent need for rapid, scalable solutions.
Rapid expansion in Gabon’s energy mix
The surge in Karpowership’s role within Gabon’s electricity network unfolded over just a few months. The operator scaled up its operations in response to recurring power cuts affecting residential areas and industrial zones alike. This adaptability underscores the unique appeal of Turkish powerships, which can be towed between countries and connected to grids within weeks—unlike traditional land-based plants, which require years of construction.
Gabon now joins a growing list of African nations relying on Karpowership’s services, including Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Mozambique. The company’s business model hinges on long-term power purchase agreements, typically denominated in dollars, with pricing tied to kilowatt-hour production. This financial arrangement has sparked recurring debates in regional capitals, as the cost burden—linked to hydrocarbon price fluctuations—strains national budgets.
Energy security and strategic reliance
For Gabonese authorities, the 150 MW infusion provides immediate relief. The Société d’Énergie et d’Eau du Gabon (SEEG) has long struggled to meet rising demand, driven by rapid urbanization, the expansion of special economic zones, and a resurgence in mining projects. Gabon’s electricity mix—reliant on hydropower, natural gas, and fuel oil—has seen its operational margins shrink as aging infrastructure falters.
Yet the reliance on a single supplier raises questions. With 25% of capacity now under Karpowership’s control, the company wields significant bargaining power in a country that is simultaneously seeking to capitalize on domestic gas reserves and secure its energy sovereignty. The transitional authorities, prioritizing infrastructure revival since the regime change of August 2023, must now balance immediate operational needs with long-term vision.
Bridging the gap toward local capacity
Evans Damada frames Karpowership’s role as a transitional solution to bridge the gap between current demand and the phased deployment of new domestic infrastructure. Several Gabonese projects are underway, including the Kinguélé Aval hydroelectric dam, developed by Meridiam and Gabon Power Company, as well as offshore gas-powered plants. Once operational, these facilities are expected to gradually reduce the relative share of powerships in the energy mix.
In the meantime, the Turkish presence continues to shape the grid’s daily operations. The floating plants provide base-load power, simultaneously supplying Greater Libreville and the industrial corridor of the Estuary. Maintenance, handled by mixed Turkish-Gabonese teams, includes a modest but growing local training component—a step toward the skill transfers authorities envision.
In the short term, the question is no longer whether Gabon can do without Karpowership but how it will renegotiate the terms of this partnership. Upcoming challenges include tariff agreements, contract durations, and the integration of domestic gas into the national energy strategy. The Turkish operator has signaled its intent to remain a long-term partner in Gabon’s electricity sector.
