Libreville Celebrates New Era of Water Security Backed by AfDB

A decade-long water crisis in Libreville, the capital of Gabon, has come to an end with the inauguration of the PK5 drinking water pumping station, a state-of-the-art facility designed to deliver clean and reliable water to 128,000 residents in the city’s densely populated northern districts. The project was officially launched by Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema and African Development Bank (AfDB) Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on June 24.

With a daily pumping capacity of 57,600 cubic meters, the PK5 station marks a historic turnaround for Libreville’s PK5 district and six other neighboring communes. For many residents, it is the first time in years that water has flowed freely from their taps.

“It has been eight years since we last saw a drop of water,” said Astrid Momboukou, a local resident who attended the ceremony. “We had even forgotten what a tap looked like.”

From Drought to Deliverance: A Vital Lifeline for the Capital

The PK5 project is a flagship component of the Integrated Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Program for Libreville (PAIEPAL). With an overall investment of €117.4 million, the program was financed through a €75.4 million loan from the African Development Bank and a €42 million contribution from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), co-financed by the People’s Bank of China and administered by the AfDB.

Through PAIEPAL, more than 300,000 people—roughly 31% of Libreville’s population—now have consistent access to potable water, including residents of Libreville, Akanda, Owendo, and Ntoum.

AfDB President Dr. Adesina hailed the momentous achievement:

“Ten years without drinking water: erased! Ten years without hope: forgotten! Ten years of suffering: ended!”

Transforming Infrastructure, Transforming Lives

The impact of PAIEPAL goes beyond pipelines and pumping stations. According to Philippe Tonangoye, Gabon’s Minister for Universal Access to Water and Energy, the project involved:

• Renovation of 150 kilometers of existing pipelines

• Installation of an additional 150 kilometers of new distribution networks

• Construction and rehabilitation of multiple water towers

• Installation of around 60 public standpipes across the metropolitan area

These upgrades are significantly reducing the burden previously borne by households, especially women and children, who had to walk long distances or wait for water tankers every few days.

“The African Development Bank spared no effort to make this program a reality,” said Minister Tonangoye. “Some of these areas hadn’t received a single drop of water in ten years.”

AfDB's Expanding Development Footprint in Gabon

During his visit, Dr. Adesina was awarded one of Gabon’s highest civilian honors—Grand Officer of the Order of the Gabonese Merit—by President Oligui Nguema. The award recognized Adesina’s visionary leadership and the Bank’s transformative impact in Gabon and across Africa.

“From 1974 to 2014, the Bank approved $1 billion in financing for Gabon. Since my election in 2015, we have committed an additional $1.5 billion—1.5 times the previous 40-year total,” Adesina noted.

Beyond the water sector, the AfDB has helped develop key infrastructure in Gabon, including:

• The New Owendo International Port, a multipurpose logistics hub handling 4 million tonnes annually and cutting port handling costs by 30%

• The Kinguélé Aval Hydropower Plant, the country’s first energy public-private partnership (PPP), which will supply 40 megawatts of clean energy

• The Ndendé-Doussala Road, a crucial segment of the Libreville-Brazzaville corridor aimed at enhancing regional integration with the Republic of Congo

Investing in Inclusive Development

As part of his visit, Dr. Adesina also visited two families who had been directly affected by water scarcity and toured the National School for Hearing-Impaired Children (ENEDA) in Nzeng-Ayong. Since gaining access to clean water on June 2, the school has experienced a marked improvement in hygiene and learning conditions, benefiting hundreds of students with disabilities.

“This is the real meaning of development,” Adesina said during his visit. “When children, families, and entire communities can live with dignity and opportunity.”

Long-Term Vision for Inclusive Growth

The African Development Bank’s current $61.26 million active portfolio in Gabon focuses on:

• Developing sustainable infrastructure to support industrialization

• Strengthening economic governance and improving the business climate

These efforts are aligned with the Bank’s strategic framework, known as the “High 5s”: Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

Since Adesina assumed leadership in 2015, the AfDB has helped 565 million people improve their quality of life. In the water sector alone, 63 million people have gained access to safe drinking water, and 34 million now have sanitation services.

A New Chapter for Libreville

The PK5 station’s inauguration marks not just an infrastructure milestone, but a broader commitment to social equity, dignity, and inclusive development. For thousands of families in Libreville, the simple joy of running water is a symbol of resilience, partnership, and hope.

“We feel like citizens of a real capital now,” said Sandrine Onanga, reflecting the sentiment of many. “Water is finally flowing from our taps. That changes everything.”