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Building bridges with communities: BESIX’s social commitment in Gabon
Strategic infrastructure in Gabon
In Gabon, BESIX is delivering infrastructure that will transform mobility and encourage economic growth. From the remote Ebel-Abanga region to the bustling capital of Libreville, our teams are working on a bridge, two urban flyovers and four pedestrian footbridges. In Ebel-Abanga, the BESIX team will replace an outdated single-lane structure from the 1970s. The new 200-metre bridge will feature two lanes and sidewalks, greatly enhancing safety and capacity on a strategic corridor linking Gabon to Cameroon and the Republic of Congo.
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A remote challenge, a creative solution
Ebel-Abanga, a village of less than 1,000 inhabitants, lies some three hours from Libreville. The isolation posed significant logistical challenges. “There was no potable water, and no housing for our team,” recalls Manon Albertini, HSE Manager at BESIX Gabon. “Before we could even start work, we had to create a base camp for our 20-strong workforce.”
The team found an unfinished house and completed it using prefabricated elements, then drilled a borehole to access water. But this water was not potable. Initially, bottled water seemed the only option, but this created a new problem: plastic waste in a village without a waste management system. “Transporting bottles and then removing the waste meant a huge carbon footprint,” explains Manon.
The numbers were striking: in just one year, the site would have consumed over 62,000 one-litre bottles, generating 1.57 tonnes of plastic waste. The logistics of transporting water and waste over three hours each way would have resulted in more than 12,500 kg of CO₂ emissions.
Innovation offered a breakthrough. BESIX installed an atmospheric water generator, a machine that extracts humidity from the air and transforms it into safe drinking water. “It’s a remarkable machine,” says Manon. “It draws in air, filters dust, condenses humidity, and produces up to 460 litres of potable water daily. Moreover, it’s easy to operate.”
The generator’s benefit is not only environmental but also economic. The return on investment is achieved in just 1.5 years, saving BESIX EUR 34,000 over the project’s duration. “The water generator empowers us to deliver fresh, drinkable water directly on remote sites, eliminating the need for complex logistics and water bottle transport,” notes Guillaume Bracq, Project Director.
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Health and education: A shared responsibility
Health initiatives have become a cornerstone of BESIX’s presence in Ebel-Abanga. On World Malaria Day, the team partnered with the Gabonese Red Cross to distribute insecticide-treated nets to vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. They visited the village school, shared educational leaflets, and even went door-to-door to explain how to install the nets properly. “Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in Africa,” notes Manon. “Prevention saves lives, and we wanted to make sure the message reached everyone.”
Our efforts extend to HIV/AIDS awareness. BESIX contributes financially to the publication of prevention leaflets and the distribution of rapid detection tests. “It’s about dignity and health,” says Manon. “We can’t ignore these realities when we work so closely with communities.”
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Building trust through close-knit relationships
Community engagement is not a one-off gesture. Two-thirds of the site workforce are recruited locally, reinforcing their skills and raising their profile on the job market. “For us, it’s obvious,” says Manon. “We want to have close relations with communities and authorities, and for that we are working hand in hand with them.”
The presence of two HSE officers and a local HR representative ensures constant dialogue with the village chief and residents. “They’re happy with what we do,” Manon reflects. “They’d love to see more frequent actions, and we try to respond as much as possible. These are not just projects, they’re relationships.”
A legacy beyond concrete and steel
As BESIX continues its work in Gabon, the story of Ebel-Abanga illustrates a broader vision: engineering excellence paired with social responsibility. From innovative water solutions to health campaigns and education support, BESIX is building more than infrastructure.
“In the end, our goal is simple: to create a lasting legacy. Once the bridge will be delivered, we want the community to feel that BESIX was not just a contractor, but a partner in their future”, says Manon.
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