Gabon is signalling a decisive shift in its energy strategy with the launch of a major partnership targeting the transformation of its gas sector. The government has confirmed a strategic collaboration with DP World, the Emirati logistics and infrastructure group, for the development of the Cap Lopez gas project, according to information reported by the Gabonese Press Agency (AGP) and specialised industry sources.
The initiative reflects Libreville’s ambition to move away from a historically oil-centric hydrocarbons model towards a more diversified, environmentally aligned gas strategy—one that emphasises offshore processing, export optimisation, and reduced environmental impact.
Cap Lopez: A Strategic Node in Gabon’s Gas Value Chain
The Cap Lopez project is designed to play a central role in Gabon’s gas infrastructure by enabling the storage and export of offshore-treated gas. A key objective is the reduction of gas flaring, a longstanding issue in Gabon’s hydrocarbons sector that has drawn increasing scrutiny from environmental regulators and international partners.
By capturing and monetising gas that would otherwise be flared, the project aims to improve resource efficiency while aligning Gabon with international climate and energy transition standards. The approach mirrors a growing trend among hydrocarbon-producing countries seeking to reconcile continued fossil fuel production with emissions reduction commitments.
Cap Lopez is therefore not merely an infrastructure project, but a strategic repositioning of how Gabon produces, manages, and exports its gas resources.
DP World and Drydocks World: Engineering the Project
Responsibility for engineering and construction has been entrusted to Drydocks World, a Dubai-based subsidiary of DP World specialising in complex offshore and maritime infrastructure projects.
The project forms part of Gabon’s broader push into offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure—an area that has gained momentum as global demand for flexible and relatively lower-carbon energy sources continues to rise.
Delivery of the Cap Lopez infrastructure is scheduled for July 2027, with the government and its partners projecting a significant uplift in national gas output capacity upon completion.
Boosting Gas Production and Export Capacity
Once operational, the Cap Lopez project is expected to increase Gabon’s gas production capacity by approximately 105 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d). This additional capacity is intended to support both domestic energy needs and export ambitions, particularly through offshore LNG solutions that reduce reliance on onshore facilities.
From an energy security perspective, increased gas availability could also support electricity generation and industrial development, reinforcing gas’s role as a transition fuel within Gabon’s economic diversification agenda.
Technical Scope and Industrial Scale
Technical data released on the project highlights its industrial scale and complexity. Key elements include:
- More than 700 tonnes of steel fabrication, reflecting the structural demands of offshore gas infrastructure
- Approximately three kilometres of piping, required to connect processing, storage, and export systems
- Integration of a boil-off gas (BOG) recovery module weighing around 1,400 tonnes, designed to capture evaporated gas and reinject it into the system
The inclusion of BOG recovery technology is particularly significant, as it directly contributes to emissions reduction and operational efficiency—two factors increasingly scrutinised by international investors and regulators.
Environmental and Energy Transition Dimensions
Reducing gas flaring has become a policy priority for Gabon, which has positioned itself internationally as a leader in environmental stewardship, forest conservation, and climate diplomacy. In the hydrocarbons sector, this translates into pressure to adopt cleaner technologies and reduce wasteful practices.
The Cap Lopez project directly addresses these concerns by transforming flared gas into a commercial asset, thereby lowering emissions while generating additional revenue. This dual economic–environmental logic aligns with global initiatives such as the World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring” programme, even if Gabon has not formally linked the project to that framework.
Strategic Implications for Gabon’s Economy
Beyond the gas sector itself, the partnership with DP World carries broader strategic implications. As a global logistics and infrastructure operator, DP World’s involvement strengthens Gabon’s credibility among international investors and energy markets.
The project also reinforces Gabon’s ambition to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on crude oil exports, and develop higher-value segments of the hydrocarbons chain. Offshore LNG infrastructure, in particular, offers flexibility in responding to shifting global demand patterns.
