Search

2.27. In 2012, the Gabonese Government, in partnership with OLAM International Ltd., developed a privileged economic zone (ZERP) in the town of Nkok, consisting of a multisectoral industrial park to promote the sustainable production and use of natural resources for local and export markets. Extending over 1,126 hectares, the ZERP is connected via river transport to the port of Owendo and to the Gabonese rail network. Eligibility for the ZERP regime is open to Gabonese and foreign natural or legal persons if they export at least 75% of their production to other countries, acquire a block of land in the zone, prepare a business plan and perform an environmental impact study.

3.45. Gabon continues to impose prohibitions and restrictions pursuant to the multilateral environmental agreements it has signed. Within the country, hunting permits must conform to the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. According to the authorities, this rule consequently also applies to official exports of hunting trophies.

3.46. In accordance with the common framework adopted by the CEMAC member countries, Gabon regulates the introduction into its customs territory of products containing ozone depleting substances (ODS) and equipment powered by ODS. It also applies the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is under way. Gabon ratified the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal on 6 June 2008. The import of non recyclable plastics is also banned, except with special authorization, by Order No. 1489/MECIT/CAB of 16 June 2010. This Order seeks to preserve the environment and protect the population. [34]
[34] Order No. 1489/MECIT/CAB of 16 June 2010 prohibiting the importation and sale of non-recyclable plastic bags in the Gabonese Republic.

3.47. (...) It is also forbidden to import and market cooking pots and other utensils made from recycled materials. [36] (...)
[36] Order No. 1673/MECIT/CAB of 9 July 2010 prohibiting the import and sale of cooking pots and other equipment made from recycled materials in the Gabonese Republic.

3.63. In 2010, a partnership was signed between the Gabonese Government and the Singaporean firm Olam with the aim of setting up the Nkok Special Economic Zone (SEZ), 27 kilometres from Libreville. The SEZ is an integrated, multisectoral industrial park covering 1,126 hectares, of which 550 hectares have been developed to date. It promotes the sustainable production and exploitation of natural resources for both local and export markets. An initial investment of USD 240 million was required to set up the Zone, which has welcomed 143 investors and counting from 17 different countries.

3.84. Gabon has implemented Law No. 06 organizing the standardization process. From 2019 to 2022, Gabon will have 915 standards in force, of which 28 are mandatory and 884 are voluntary. These standards are prepared by technical committees as follows: (...); 63 in the field of sustainable development; (...)

4.117. The Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation replaced the Horizon 2020 framework (Section 3.3.1.1) and continues to promote energy and climate-related research. The programme allocates approximately EUR 15.1 billion for research and development in the areas of climate, energy, and mobility for the period 2021-27. (...)

4.118. In February 2022, the Commission adopted new Guidelines on State Aid for climate, environmental protection and energy as spelled out in the European Green Deal to facilitate achieving the Deal's objectives, specifying 14 potentially compatible types of specific aid measures. On 20 July 2022, the Commission also amended the state aid Temporary Crisis Framework (Section 3.3.1.2) to include measures aimed at accelerating the roll-out of renewable energy and some aimed at decarbonizing industrial processes, as outlined in the REPowerEU Plan. Detailed data on state aid provided to the energy transition were not yet available. In 2020, the total state aid expenditure for environmental protection including energy savings amounted to nearly EUR 80 billion.

4.120. During the review period, the composition of primary energy production continued to shift towards renewables, which accounted for 41% of total primary energy production in 2021 (up from 35% in 2018) (Table 4.9), while the share of energy generated from all fossil fuels declined. It was too early to identify trends in changes of the composition following the war in Ukraine. Renewable energy sources accounted for 38% of the electricity produced in 2020 (up from 33% in 2018), making it the largest power source of electricity for the first time. Nuclear energy accounted for roughly one quarter of the electricity produced.

4.121. In terms of final energy consumption, (...) The share of renewables and biofuels increased from 10.8% in 2018 to 11.7% in 2021, continuing its upward trend (Table 4.9). Overall, the share of renewable energy in gross final consumption of energy reached 22.1% in 2020 and 21.8% in 2021.