An engineering, procurement and construction contract has been signed for the development of the 35-megawatt Kinguele Aval hydroelectric dam on the Mbei River, which is about 100 kilometers from Libreville, the capital of Gabon. The contract was signed by Asonha Energie and the Chinese engineering construction company Sinohydro.

The former is a joint venture between the Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund and the Meridiam Infrastructure Fund. The Gabonese Strategic Investment Fund is a sovereign wealth fund designed to help Central African countries develop emerging industries that can generate enough revenue to replace oil revenue. It is a global investor and asset management company focusing on public and community infrastructure.

According to FGIS, the construction contract follows the concession terms signed between the Gabonese State and Asonha Energie in October 2019 for the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the infrastructure.

The construction of the project is scheduled to start before the end of 2020, and the first commissioning is planned for 2023.

It is estimated that the Jingle Dam downstream of the dam will cost 80 billion Canadian dollars, one third of which will be provided by the International Finance Corporation in the form of loans. The Jingle Dam will enable "Gabon Energy and Water Corporation (SEEG) to optimize energy production and supply in the region."

In addition to increasing the installed capacity of the region to connect rural areas such as Andok Fula with electricity, contributing to the social integration of Gabon, the Kinguélé Aval Hydropower Dam will also stimulate the economy by purchasing goods and services locally from national companies increase. In addition, the project will provide more than 700 jobs during the implementation phase. Editor/Sang Xiaomei