Equatorial Guinea Inaugurates New High-Capacity Power Plant In Djibloho

Entire country now has access to electrical power.

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea has inaugurated a new electricity plant in the city of Djibloho that forms the final major element in its plan to extend electrical power to the entire nation. President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo dedicated the plant in an official ceremony on October 11.

"The importance of this project is to ensure a better life for all of our citizens […]," President Obiang stated at the ceremony. "Today we are going to overcome a challenge, electricity for everything, energy for everyone; some took it as an impossible deed, but today Equatorial Guinea now has energy for all of its citizens."

The Djibloho Hydroelectric and Distribution Plant is one of the nation's largest investments in infrastructure to date, and will generate more than 220 kilowatts to supply electricity to the mainland. The plant also helps the nation diversify its energy supply, which is largely defended on hydrocarbons.

The electrical plant is part of Equatorial Guinea's multi-year program to improve the country's infrastructure. The new, state-of-the-art electricity plant will play an important role in meeting Horizon 2020 development goals that aim to make Equatorial Guinea an emergent and sustainable economy by 2020.

"Energy is [now] in almost every corner of the nation, in all provinces, provincial capitals, districts and towns," said President Obiang.

Equatorial Guinea is currently working on connecting the remaining villages that are without electricity to the national electrical grid.

Construction on the project, which received support from the government of China, began in 2008. Equatorial Guinean technicians received training to ensure proper local operation of the plant.

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union, 2012 Africa Cup of Nations and 2012 Leon H. Sullivan Summit. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea