New plant extends power across Equatorial Guinea

GOVERNMENT

Equatorial Guinea has inaugurated a new electricity plant in the city of Djibloho that forms the final major element in its plan to extend electrical power to the entire nation. 

President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said in inaugurating the plant: “The importance of this project is to ensure a better life for all of our citizens.”

"Today we are going to overcome a challenge, electricity for everything, energy for everyone; some took it as an impossible deed, but today Equatorial Guinea now has energy for all of its citizens."

The Djibloho Hydroelectric and Distribution Plant  is one of the nation's largest investments in infrastructure to date, and will generate more than 220 kilowatts to supply electricity to the mainland. The plant also helps the nation diversify its energy supply, which is largely defended on hydrocarbons.

The electrical plant is part of Equatorial Guinea's multi-year program to improve the country's infrastructure. The new, state-of-the-art electricity plant will play an important role in meeting Horizon 2020 development goals that aim to make Equatorial Guinea an emergent and sustainable economy by 2020.

"Energy is [now] in almost every corner of the nation, in all provinces, provincial capitals, districts and towns," said President Obiang.

Equatorial Guinea is currently working on connecting the remaining villages that are without electricity to the national electrical grid.

Construction on the project, which received support from the government of China, began in 2008. Equatorial Guinean technicians received training to ensure proper local operation of the plant.