Ernest Ndong Nguema has been appointed as the Director General of Gabon Oil Company (Gab’Oil). This marks the third Director General to take the reins of this public company within a year.

Ernest Ndong Nguema, successor to François Owono Messie, takes the helm of a public company currently facing a particularly stormy phase. The company is overwhelmed by a massive debt to the Société Gabonaise de Raffinage (Sogara). Additionally, there are unpaid debts owed to the Société d’Énergie et d’Eau du Gabon (SEEG), which significantly hinder its self-financing capabilities.

In this context, the challenge facing Ernest Ndong Nguema is colossal. The former director of hydrocarbons at the Gabonese Ministry of Petroleum will be tasked with regaining the trust of both public and private partners while implementing rigorous and transparent governance. To succeed, he must prioritize the financial cleanup of Gab’Oil, improve internal control systems, and develop a long-term strategy to reposition the company as a competent and trustworthy player in the national and regional oil market.

To achieve this, the new Director General will need to closely collaborate with government authorities while forming partnerships with private sector actors.