Aurion Capital Holdings, the Gabonese Republic and the Société d’Énergie et d’Eau du Gabon (SEEG) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the Panthera Power natural gas-fired electricity program in Greater Libreville.

The agreement was signed on September 8, 2026, and covers a planned generation capacity ranging from 150 to 450 megawatts. The integrated program is designed to include gas-fired power plants alongside the supply, transmission and distribution infrastructure needed to support them.

Total financing is expected to exceed $1 billion. Aurion Capital Holdings and its partners are expected to develop and finance the program, with no financial commitment from the Gabonese state.

Studies to precede definitive agreements

Aurion Capital is acting as sponsor and will lead the project’s development and financial structuring. Its responsibilities include assembling an industrial and financial consortium and conducting feasibility, technical, environmental and social impact studies.

The pre-feasibility study has been entrusted to Global Infrastructure Advisors, an independent infrastructure firm based in London. A steering committee made up of SEEG and Aurion Capital Holdings will oversee the studies.

SEEG has been identified as the prospective electricity offtaker and as the technical counterpart for matters involving the national grid, interconnection, power evacuation and operating conditions.

The conclusions of the studies must receive joint approval from the Gabonese state and SEEG before negotiations on definitive agreements can begin. The final capacity has not yet been specified within the 150-to-450 MW range, and no construction or commissioning schedule has been announced.

Focus on household and industrial demand

The program is intended to respond to rising household electricity demand and support local industrial processing that depends on competitively priced power.

It is also aligned with Gabon’s National Energy Compact, published in June 2026 under the Mission 300 initiative. The compact sets an installed-capacity target of 1,100 MW by 2030 and identifies an investment requirement of $4.169 billion for the 2026–2030 period, including an expected $2 billion contribution from the private sector.

Ali Diallo, founder and chief executive officer of Aurion Capital, said Gabon represented the starting point for the company’s wider ambitions in Africa. He said the group was bringing experience in investment fund management and public-private partnerships, as well as access to private, sovereign and industrial capital from the Gulf and Asia.

“Energy is the foundation of the continent’s sustainable development: without reliable and competitive power generation, no industrialization can take hold,” Diallo said.

Souleymane Diallo, Aurion Capital’s president for Africa, said the company viewed Gabon as having the resources and political support required to change its electricity supply. He said the company was committed to sponsoring an integrated project running from upstream gas through distribution.

Souleymane Diallo also said Aurion Capital was assessing further opportunities in energy, mining and infrastructure in several African countries.