France and the European Union provide 203 million euros to modernize the Libreville-Franceville line.
The presidents of France (left) and Gabon met in Libreville on 24 November.
An agreement has been signed under which the French Development Agency (AFD) will provide a sovereign loan of €173 million and the European Union (EU) €30 million for the PMS program to modernize the 648 km Libreville-Franceville Transgabonais railway.
The agreement was signed during the official visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Libreville on November 24, in the presence of Gabon’s President, Brice Olegé Nguema.
The main goal is to improve reliability on the Transgabonne Railway through a €203 million investment package that will repair unstable parts of the alignment and modernize critical infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability. The capacity will be increased to provide up to 16 daily routes, or eight trains in each direction.
The upgrade program also includes developing passenger services and modernizing stations. Support will be provided to a project aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of both the Government of Gabon and the Gabon and Transgabonnet Operating Company (Setrag), which has a 30-year operating concession.
The French Development Agency says the program fits into Gabon’s economic diversification strategy by supporting the mining, forestry and agricultural sectors and opening up the country’s interior regions. It is also in line with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy to invest in sustainable, high-quality infrastructure.
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