UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC
SOCIAL COUNCIL AND
Distr, LIMITED
E/CN.14/EP/30
27 February 1968 Original: ENGLISH\
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA Sub-regional meeting on Energy
for Central Africa
Brazzaville, 29-31 January 1968
ENERGY DEVEI/OPMENT IN THE SIX COUNTRIES OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN SUB-REGION
CONSOLIDATED REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION. GENERAL REMARKS ON THE MISSION II. ENERGY POSITION IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE CENTRAL
AFRICAN SUB-REGION
A. Primary energy resources
B. Production, trade and primary energy consumption •
C. Electrical energyIII. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A. Conclusions
B. Recommendations .
ANNEXES
1. LARGE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN
SUB-REGION
A. Hydro-electrical power stations B. Thermonuclear power stations • ,
. C. Main electrical energy transmission lines . . . II. MAP DEPICTING PRIMARY ENERGY IN CENTRAL AFRICA
HI. MAP DEPICTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY IN CENTRAL AFRICA M67-1664
Page 1
4
38 54
66 6679
91 91
92
93
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I. INTRODUCTION
GENERAL E3MARKS ON THE MISSION
% Purpose of mission
I 1. This mission was undertaken as part of aid from the Economic
* Commission for Africa to the six countries of the Central African sub- region, in evaluating and developing their energy resources, in accord ance with the recommendations of the sub-regional meeting on Economic Co operation in Central Africa, held at Brazzaville from 18 to 23 April 1966,
Its purpose was to study primary energy resources in each of the six countries, give an up-to-date pioture of the position, evolving trends, and prospects for the development of the various forms of energy available and indicate the possible lines of multilateral co-operation in this
particular sub-region.
2. The mission was preceded by a brief visit to Paris and Brussels, as a result of which some knowledge was obtained of the broad lines of action
which the Fund for Aid and Co-operation (PAC) and the European Development Fund (EDF) proposed to take in helping the six countries to develop their
energy resources.
There was a break in the mission from 7 to 24 October 1966 to enable me to take part in the sub-regional meeting on Economic Co-operation in West Africa held at Niamey from 10 to 22 October 1966. It fell to me on that occasion, to present the documents prepared after my mission to West I Afrioft.
' Itinerary
3« The itinerary was as follows;
Leave Addis Ababa on 18 September Paris; 18-21 and 22-25 September BrusselsJ 21 to 22 September,
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Documentation
5< The documentation collected hy the mirsion is given in a schedule
annexed to the report for each country. ... . ,.-,-: .. *
Proceedings *
6. The length of etay originally agreed upon was somewhat dislocated by : ' the fact that the?© -was a hsavy demand on aircraft at the "beginning of the : ' school- year3 or- elso by the ■*:■::;.• ^?.r. the air companies made in their time
tables or itineraries:, this" m^ant that accommodation in the various towns
visited ooaxld.not.be fully arranged in tims. ■ ,The .mission met with Borne transport difficulties in 'its movements in' certain towns, and .of-:-en had to e-n^age "taxis to' get to' some of the places" ■ to which official visits had been'^ranged* ■'■ ■■'■ ■' 7. It is worth pointing cut th^t ,?,s ?, rule bookings in connexion with
changes of aircraft and other■movements, are not effected in Addis Ababa by the travel agentc engaged for service with the EGA secretariat.
Similar!ys aa a rule, extra charges incurred through inefficient, organization, are not reimbursed by tho Commission's secretariat.
8. Another o^cerwrHorj ^.q tb?,t in +he countries visited there are only a very small number of the necesr.ary documents, and the Departments hold
ing these documents are reluctant to part with them. The result is that the experts are compelled to consult them on the spot when authorized todo so, Since r\m\i v/'rr-i^-rv c?.v^. often eho:•■';, a ^reat deal of time is lost - in each country by turning over the pages of documents, the contents of ( which might well have been savrraiH 3odby the responsible authorities. .'.■' .;S;;i:..~.i..'■■
Sometiir.33 the oonolunion can hardly be avoided that the departments ■'■■
concerned arc not '-.^ry happy about supplying certain information, ■ '-
Representations mndo to the mission
9- Some countries complain cf not reoeiving the increasingly large number of reports from experts who carry out missions, which the local authorities often regard ?.s of extreme- importance* Quite apart from any
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documents prepared for sub-regional meetings, they would like to receive reports concerning them throu^a the Commission's secretariat, to enable them to make good an early use of any recommendations such documents might
contain.
10. Some of the countries in the sub-region also pointed out that certain requests forwarded to ECA for assistance by way of experts, were often not complied with. They would be glad if in certain urgent cases the secreta
riat would comply without undue delay.
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II. ENERGY POSITION IN THE .COUNTRIES OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN- SUB^REGIOK ; A. Primary energy resources
electric energy
/I* The Central African sub-region, with the exception of Chad, is very fortunate in that.it possesses substantial water resources. It is fed by- steep water courses which produce an abundant flow. It has a very heavy, rainfall and the abundant regular rainfall together with the luxuriant equatorial vegetation, tend to regularize the flow of the water courses and to ensure a relatively high low-water level. In addition, the longitu dinal configuration of the rivers is cut vertically in several places, thus providing an economical setting for hydro-electric installations.
The exploitable hydro-electric potential of the countries of the sub-
region as a whole, is estimated to be between 723 and 743 billioiwkWh per year, as given in the following table:
Country
Chad
Central African Republic
Cameroon
Gabon
Congo-Brazzaville Congo-Kinshasa
Total
In other words
Gross theoretical power (in
at
Q 95
1,6003,500 4,800
6,000 3,000 66,200 85,100
at Q 50 2,500
10,500 18,300
18,000 9,000
103
-
361.5 to 371-5 million
Arithmetical flow
4,300
13,800 28,700
21,900 11,300 ,000
_
tons of coal
MW) Average annual mean productibility
(in GWh)
13,000
28,000 80,000 - 100,000
48,000 24,000 530,000 723,000 - 743,000 equivalent.
l/ A billion equals one thousand million.
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2. The country- which has the richest hydro-electric potential is the Demo cratic Republic of the Congo, referred to above as Congo Kinshasa, That country possesses unusually abundant resources of water. Its potential is the highest in the African continent., Although no exhaustive inventory has so far been made of it, the most recent estimates give a gross theore tical power of 103 million kW, and an exploitable potential of 530 billion fcWh a year. The largest portion of this potential is to be found in the
so-called region of the cataracts between Kinshasa and Matadi where liesthe Inga, the most spectacular concentration in the world of an immense exploitable hydro-eleotrio potential. At that point, the Congo river describes a curve, the extremities of which are separated by a difference in level of 100 metres over a distance of approximately 12 km as the crow flies. By itself alone, the Inga project is estimated at 210 billion kW
per year, requiring a production capacity bordering on 30,000 MW« This
region alone contains approximately 60 per cent of all the hydro-electric
potential in the Congo,
The rest of the potential is mainly concentrated in Katanga and the Eastern regions, namely Kasai, the east and north-east portion of the
country.
The total installed capacity in the various hydro-electric installations was 689 MW in 1965, that is 6.7 per cent approximately of the country's
gross theoretical capacity. Some 30 hydraulic power stations operate in the various provinces, the most important being situated on the Congo river and its tributaries. The mining companies are responsible for most of the important works set up, particularly in Katanga where the ex-Union
Miniere of Upper Katanga represented about 86 per cent of the total installed power in energy mining equipment in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
The Government of that Republic has decided to develop the first
instalment of the initial phase of the Inga project, to produce power of
up to 150 MW for a start, increasing it later to 350 MH. " '
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3- The overall exploitable hydraulic resources of the Federal Republic of the Cameroon are estimated to be somethingrof the order of 80-100 billion kWh per year.
A site has already been established at Edea on the Sanaga, in Eastern Cameroon, for the production of aluminium. The installed power is close on 152 MW, and the average annual production exceeds 1 billion kWh. Two hydro-electric micro-power stations of 132 kW and 128 fcW have been experi mented with in Cameroon and at present they serve the centres of Dschang and Poumban. Three small hydro-electric power stations are also being
operated in Western Cameroon: N'Joke-Buea (1.5 MW),Macale (O.72 MW) and Luermann Falls (0,3 MW).
Several important sites have also been reconnoitred, the most import ant being situated on the Sanaga, the Nyong, the Wouri and the Vina. A vast number of possibilities exist in the areas from the centre southwards and along the shoreline, the following being worthy of. mention:
- Yabassi on the Hkam 44 .MW, 310 GWh - M'Poume on the Nyong 75 MW, 530 GWh
- N'Jock on the Nyong 60 MW, 430 GWh .... .;, - Natchigal on the Sanaga 80 MW, 400 to 600 GWh
- Songloulou on the Sanaga 120 MW, 700 to'950 GWh
Several sites of minor importance have also been reconnoitred in the Western portion of the Federation, particularly on the Nlcam, the Noun, the Ombe river, the Metchoum, the Gross river as well as on the Owe river and the rivers in the Idenau area. The Lagdo site has been,reconnoitred on
the Benoue* . -
The Federal Government of Cameroon has asked Electricity de France to undertake a general study of the electrification of Cameroon, the aim being to make an inventory of its needs in energy, ..the sites that seem to lend themselves to hydro-electric installations, and to draw up a rational electrification programme having regard to the foreseeable needs of the country and the resources tabulated.
4« Although there is not as yet any important hydro-electric operation there,
■Gabon' has a remarkable hydraulic n&twork, but its overall potential has not yet been accurately ascertained. It is unfortunately overlaid to a great extent by forest, and the mosc iupor'tant waterfalls are situated in zones difficult to penetrate and often-far removed from the main centres of con
sumption. .■■<■■
The exploitable hydro-electric potential is estimated.to.be 48, billion kkh a year* Prom i960, the Government of Gabon has been concerned with
making, an-doaventoiy of the exploitable hydro-electric potential of the country, wi'ih'a view to promoting its industrial development. The prepa ration of this inventory with which Electricite de France was entrusted, revealed the existence of a large number of exploitable sites in the various 'basins of the Ogboue and Nyanga rivers. These two basins cover
approxiinately 80 per cent of the territory of the Republic of Gabon. From the Congo frontier upstream of Franceville as far as N'Djole, the course of theOgooue river represents the principal source of the country's energy-
It is possible to establish along its course as many as seven hydro -electricstations-which will give an annual productibility of the order of 30 .billion kWh, the individual amounts for the various installations ranging between 600 GWh and 10 TWh per year a!; the Okanda sluice.
Downstream from Kakokou, the Ivindo has four main waterfalls which, might be capable of producing a total of close on 3 billion KWh a year, and perhaps much more if the flow from the upper basin could be regulated.
Unfortunately it would, be comparatively difficult and costly to equip the first three tvaterfa?Is, and the fourth one would probably be partially submerged by the collection oi' water in the Okanda dam.
In the short sector "between Fougamou and Sindara, the N'Gounie might probably yield about 3 billion KWh per year from two separate installations.
There are two sites that might be equipped on the lower course of the.
Nyanga, and a third on its middle course. If this is done in stages, an ■ overall productibili^ ranging froni 100 GVJh to over 2 billion KWh per year may be obtained.
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/
The other areas of Gabon, which fall outside the general programme of hydro-eleotric prospection, have a very variable potential. In the region around the Crystal Hills which is drained by the estuaries of Gabon and Mouni, the potential is fairly large, but it is somowhat limited in the areas around the almost eroded plains of Bitam and Qyem which feed the Woleu and Ntem. There is practically no potential in the lower areas of Omboue and Mayumba which are intersected by a number of tiny coastal rivers,
At the conclusion of the final studies carried out by ELectricite de taaae., the Government of Gabon decided to set up the Kinguele site on the M'Bei, an important tributary of the Como, some 100 km from Libreville.
The power station will be equipped for a start with two or three 8,000 kW transformers, and annual production will be in the neighbourhood of 135 million kWh with a guaranteed power of 16,900 kW. In its fi>. 1 form, the power station will be capable of accommodating 5 identical transformers with a unitary power of 8,000 kW, in other words an installed power of 40,000 kW for an annual average productibility of 320 - 350 million kWh.
With the Tchimbele dam reservoir situated approximately 20 km north of Kinguele, it mi^it be possible at a later stage to regulate the flow of the M'Bei and instal additional equipment.
5. The Central African Republic has a considerable hydraulic potential evaluated at over 50 billion kWh a year. The exploitable potential is estimated to be 28 billion kWh per year, but it is still only very thinly exploited. The only existing hydro-electric installation is the one at Boali on the M'Bali, a sub-tributary of the Oubangui. It is equipped with four 1*75 MW transformers. If these were increased to five, the installed power would be 8.75 MW. It would seem to be difficult to carry it beyond that point because of the reduced low-water level of the watercourse.
A second installation mi^it be secured not far from Boali to regular ize the flow of the M'Bali and increase the production capacity of the
Boali works.
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The most interesting hydro-electric prospects so far as the Central African Republic is concerned exist on the Kotto, a tributary of the upper Oubangui, which is intercepted by a whole series of rapids and huge water falls. The best known possibilities are the Kembe, Siratnbala, Bombi,
M!Boutou and Gourou waterfalls- The Kotto basin may be capable of furnish
ing a considerable power of several hundred megawatts, but has not yet been studied.It would seem that the needs of the Bangui area could be met by the
possibilities offered by the M'Poko and its tributaries, the M'Bali and the
M!Bi, which are as large as the M'Poko itself- The three rivers which taketheir source at a height of about 65O metres exhibit fairly similar character
istics. They all cross the same rocky shelf and at that point offer aseries of rapids and waterfalls of some interest where hydro-electrical installations are concerned.
; In the western portion of the country, a few waterfalls might be harnessed, but they are of purely local interest. The question of equipp ing.them can be. envisaged tnly in the very special cases where industrial plant is to be set up nearby. Excellent possibilities exist on the sub- ftributary of the western Logone, the Lim tributary of the M'Bere, at the
Lancrenon waterfalls which have a, i.^tural difference in level of 125 metres
with.a.minimum low-water level of 123 m. These falls are almost astride the frontier of the Cameroon and the Central African Republic, not far from the boundaries of the Chad Republic. They may provide a fruitful basis for co-operation between the three countries, if the neighbouringzones were economically developed.
6. It is estimated that the overall hydroelectric potential of the Republic of the Conge could attain 50 billion kWh a year. However, no
accurate evaluation has yet been made. The exploitable hydro-electric
potential is in the region of 24 billion kWh a year.E/CN.14/EP/30
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The only existing installation is the one at Djoue, which came on
stream in 1953 to serve the Brazzaville area. This power station is
equipped with two turbo alternator transformers with a unitary power of7*5 MW» The Djoue river on which the installations were set up, flows into the Congo river a few kilometres downstream from Brazzaville. In the in stallations, use has been made of the natural difference in level between
this river and the Congo river- It might be able to supply a power to theextent of 30 MW (from four 7.5 MW transformers) and an average annual
productibility of the order of 200 million kWh. So far, only the first stage of 15 MW has been achieved to meet the needs of Brazzaville. -The power station makes use of a waterfall flowing from a height of 25 metres and a regulated flow of 72 m . The retention capacity of the dam is 8 million m . The annual productibility of the first stage is 120 million kWh a year, and the low water flow of the Djoue is 110 m .. The hydro—elec trie possibilities of the country are considerable, but very unevenly distributed.
In the Brazzaville area, apart from the vast resources of the Congo river itself and the Djoue, another tributary, the Foulakary has been carefully studied. It flows into the Congo river approximately 50 kilo metres downstream from Brazzaville. The installations might use the 120 metres of natural waterfall existing between the river and the Congo, on the last six kilometres on the stretch of this tributary. The flow varies from 15 to 250 m and, bearing in mind the possibility of establishing an im portant dam, might well make it a feasible proposition for the peaks of about 60 MW to be equipped* The power station would accommodate four 15- MW transformers.
■ There are other important rivers in the Brazzaville area, but none of them seems to offer any advantages greater than those provided by the Djoue and Foulakary falls* The Madzia waterfalls near Baratie, about 50 km approximately from Brazzaville are worth mentioning, but none of them has so far been carefully studied.
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Pa^e 11
The Mindouli area is very rich in hydro-electric potential but has not
yet been sufficiently prospected.
In the Niari area, the Bouenza, the right-bank tributary of the
Niari, is one of the most interesting rivers from the hydro-electric stand point. It goes down 200 metres over a distance of about 12 km. The
Moukoukoulou falls alone are 63 metres. Judging from the abundance of the flow, the power from this part of the Buenza course could exceed 300 MW.
There are several possibilities of setting up installations along this watercourse, two of which seem particularly interesting and promising economically. A small installation using only the Moukoukoulou falls, a larger installation of about 50 MW using the Moukoukoulou and Mokassi- Moukoukoulou falls.
Another tributary of the Niari, the Louesse, has two possibilities at least for hydro-electric installations, the main one being the site at Ibabanga. This installation would enable an equipment of about 75 MW to be set up, but the site is unfortunately in a somewhat inaccessible zone.
On the Kouilou-Niari itself, a few rapids at the N'Gotou gates up stream from Karamoeka, have a high hydroelectric potential. The most important of all the projects envisaged in connexion with which very detailed and minute studies have been carried out since 1954» is-the ~ development of the Sounda site on the Kouilou, 100 km approximately north of Pointc Noire. The conditions for this installation, which are parti cularly favourable, would lead to the following developments:
(a) The construction of a concrete vault dam, 120 metres high with
a volume of 450,000 m . The resulting reservoir would be 35 m in retention capacity, 270 km long with a surface area of 1,400km ; . ■
(b) the setting up of a factory at the foot of the dam equipped with
six, 215,000 kVA transformers.
The size o*f the dam would ensure a regular inter-annual flow and thus make it possible to count on a steady power of 800 MW, the annual producti- bility being in the neighbourhood of 7 billion kW each.
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In thePointe Noire area, the Loeme ought to make it possible to secure
an equipment of the order of 20 MW. It takes its source in the Mayombe massif, and empties itself into the Atlantic Ocean a few kilometres from Pointe Noire..Starting from its source and continuing up to the Cabinda . frontier, it descends along the mountain ranges, first slowly, then in rapids or small cascades. Its average low water level is quite low, but it is .possible to establish a large reservoir with a retaining damapproximately JO metres high- . The Loeme is the most important and probably
the only source of hydro-electric energy in the whole of the southern: Mayombe
massif. Over a distance of 15 kilometres, it is difficult of access, but ;has the advantage of being near the railway station.
In a study on the hydraulic resources of the Niari valley, undertaken by a United; Nations Special Fund mission, mention was made of the possibil
ity of establishing a dam on the Loudima, for irrigation and the production of electric energy. Similarly, the Soviet Union has envisaged the con
struction of a works for the same purpose on one of the watercourses flowing over the Batekes (the M'Pama) plateau.
The Government of the Republic of the, Congo is thinking of setting up a hydro-electric plant on the ^Ioukoukoulou waterfalls on Bouenaa. The study was carried out by Electricite de France, which acted on. behalf of ; the Societe* Ecruatoriale d'Energie Electricrue in 1963. The main purpose . ,.
of this study was.to establish ap inventory of needs in electric energy for the Loutete - Niari area which includes the Loutete, Jacob and Dolisie . , : centres. In August 1964, a Swiss firm, Interconsulting Limited of Zurich, assisted by the Societe Electrowatt, was asked by the Congolese Government to study the possibilities of going ahead with that installation. The conclusion reached as a result of that study was that in the long-run the production from the Moukoukoulou power station would not be enough to meet
the heeds of the Niari area, and it was recommended' therefore that when.-
a definitive project was prepared, the possibilities of later increasing the installed power should be} studied in order to secure the greatest advantage from the hydro-electric potential offered by the site. .The-powerstation would be equipped in the first instance with 11■ MW,■two5.5-MW; „-
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transformers, in the second sta-G with two 22-MW transformers and in the third stage with two 33-HW transformers, the complement being made up of
unitary power 11 MW transformers.
7. The territory of the Republic of Chad which is without any marked relief, is fairly well irrigated in the southern part, but has practically no other hytivo -elcotric v^oj.rco -that can be exploited except the Gauthiot waterfalls on the Mayo-Kebbi, which comprise a single difference in level
of 19 metres.
The study prepared by the Societe Equatorial_e d'Energie Electrimie in conjunction with lle_qt.ricite_dg_Prgnce, put forward a solution for develop ment in two stages: the first stage with an installed power of 3,400 kW, which would make it possible to socure an annual production of 17 million kWh; the second stage with an equipment of 10 MW, making it possible to produce 48.5 million l:Wh approximately a year* Nevertheless, from certain factors in the study carried out by the Office de la Recherche Scientifigue et Technique Outre-Merf relating to the Hydrological Year I964i it "as possible to reach tlic conclusion later that the amount of flow from the Mayo-Kebbi basin proper, v:as much less than forecast. The very comprehen sive measurements taken on the southern zone of the basin, which were merely estimated in the ccurse of xhe l$»6l hydrologicai campaign, have revealed coefficients of flow which are much lower than those estimated.
In the dry season particularly, the flow of the basin of the Mayo-Kebbi proper is insufficient. It vjcuM- therefore seem.that hydro-electric in stallations on the Ciauthiot waterfalls cannot be envisaged without drawing
on the waters of the Logoneo
■•*■ ■■ The technical method to bo studied before any problem of installation
is tackled, is how to cream off the flood waters of the Logone, and make
them over-spill through the Ere-Dana canal into the Mayo-Kebbi in the
direction of the Bcnoue. The United Nations Ppocial Fund was asked to
undertake a technical and economic study of the possibilities of putting
up installations wrth a view to regulating the overflow from the Logone,
in the interests of Chad wl Cameroon. The operational plan of the project
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entitled "A study on the possibilities of diverting the flood waters of the Logone" has been submitted for approval by the two States concerned^
The aim of the project is essentially to determine, on the basis of the various theories put forward concerning the partial or total diversion of the Logone flood waters into Mayo-Kebbi, the best method of developing the economic resources of an area which embraces the extreme north of Cameroon and. the south-west of Chad.
Although the country is intersected in the south by several water courses, Chad remains a country without relief in the well-watered zones.
The slope of the rivers is approximately one metre every kilometre, and their rate flow is practically nil in the dry season. The overall hydro electric potential has been estimated at 13 TWh per year.
Petroleum
8. The only petroleum deposits in the region, whose existence has been verified and whose resources estimated, are to be found in Gabon and the
Republic of the Congo. All the reserves are estimated to be 151-6 million tons of crude oil, approximately 150 million of which are in Gabon and 1.6 million in Congo (Brazzaville).
The other countries of the sub-region would appear to be of undoubted interest so far as petroleum is concerned, and research is being actively carried out to discover economically exploitable deposits.
The reserves estimated represent 197|O8O,OOO tons of coal equivalent.
9, Gabon which is the most important producer of petroleum in Central Africa, includes a hollow-shaped coastal sedimentary basin approximately
85,000 km2, 50,000 of which are at ground level and 35»°OQ on "foe conti
nental plateau. This basin is filled by Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary
sediments to a depth of over 4,000 metres. The basin is primarily roono*- clinal, but is cut in two parts by the Lambarene horst.e/cn.14/EP/30
Page 15
The structural distortions in the sediments of the basin stem from deep faults, accompanied in the western portion by numerous rocks from the saline series of the Cretaceous. In the eastern portion, the rocks include the oldest fraction of the sedimentary series and are mainly of non-marine origin; those in the western portion are younger and on the whole are of marine origin. Both parts of the basin have been extensively ex plored by modern prospecting methods and numerous drilling operations.
Petroleum deposits in economically exploitable quantities have been dis covered in the western portion of the basin. The oils extracted differ somewhat according to the deposits, but generally speaking they are mixed crude oils, with an average density and a low sulphur content.
sedimentary series in Gabon, has this peculiarity that it is divided into two distinct episodes as a result of a large salt-bearing deposit. This deposit, dating from_the Cretaceous, forms a sort of plastic layer, which as a result of distortions due to the overlay of sedimentary load, become more or less misshapen, caving in, in certain places and swelling out in others into a dome, as if to restore thu balance. It is those "salt domes" which have led to the formation of a certain number of.
deposits, topping or surrounding them, and trapping the petroleum. Almost all the deposits discovered in Gabon, previous to those in Gamba, are link ed with this type of structure due to salt-bearing domes.
.. The prospects for petroleum research in Gabon which vjore initially based, upon reserves evaluated at 6 million tons, have been fortunately modified by two v<3ry important discoveries: the mine:; at Anguille in the island of Mandji discovered in 1962, with reserves of the order of 80 million m ; the conditions in which the deposits can be operated and petroleum recovered, have not yet been fully ascertained; and the Gamba deposits to the south of the Sette-Cama lagoon, discovered in 1964f whose
reserves are said to be about 10 million tons.
Petroleum was discovered in economically exploitable quantities only in 195^1 although intensive 'prospecting in the Gabon basin began in 1945*
The first shafts were sunk in 1949* tJntil the Gamba field was put on
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stream, production was confined to the region of Port-Gentil, whore 10 different petroleum fields, each comprising several storage scams were in
operation.
In 1965, research continued at sea where a good productive oil reser voir was discovered near the Anguille field. The productive shafts of the Anguille field were equipped and linked with the terminal station at
Clairette "by means of a 10 3/4 inch "pipe".
The Gamba reservoirs are situated at an average depth of approximately 900 metres, and are made up of sands whose thickness when they can be used oscillates around 20 metres. They are found in a geological horizon situa ted below the salt-bearing series, and belong to the upper Aptian (of the
Cretaceous). These deposits are the first in Gabon to provide yields from
pre-salt-bearing formations. The raw product of Gamba is very full of paraffin and has a high freezing point. On the other hand, it has a low
sulphur content, and this is a decided advantage.The operation of the Gamba deposits was made possible through the
setting-up of large storage and evacuation plant. There are four reservoirs with floating roofs, giving a total capacity of 138,000 m . The "sealine"
is fed by four discharge pipes with a unitary rate of flow of 750 t/h. The outlet pipe is 7.5 kilometres long, 1 metre being on the ground and 6,5 at
seaj its diameter is 70 cm, and this makes it the second-largest works inthe whole world. The mooring point for tankers consists of a single revolv
ing buoy. A system of warming the "sealine" has been installed. It has this pecularity that inside the 70-cm pipe, a second pipe 20 cm long has been inserted in which warm oil circulates.The first tanker was loaded on 18 February 1967, and this marked the
take-off of production which is estimated at 2 million tons a year.
At present, 31 shafts have been sunk at Gamba, 29 of which are in production.
The whole of the petrolewi-bearing fields now being exploited in Gamba,
Port-Gentil, Anguille and the off-shore fields, would seem to give some
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justification for counting on a production within the region of 3 million tons a year "before 1970. The prospects in this direction are as follows
(in tons per year):
1967 3,250,000
1968 3,100,000
1969 2,600,000
1970 2,200,000
1971 2,025,000
These figures are a conservative estimate on the assumption that the exploitation of the Anguille field is not developed in future and is limited to the present level of production; that the deposits discovered in the (Jamba area are not substantially extended, and there are no new deposits within easy reach; that the possibilities of the new structure at Toutou are not exploited before 1971? that research now in progress does not reveal any new structures that are immediately exploitable in the rest of the Gabon sedimentary basin.
10. The coastal region of the Republic of the Congo, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean is made up of sedimentary rocks. Preliminary research in petroleum was carried out there in 1928-1929* when indications of hydro carbon fuels noted at various points of the territory were investigated.
The initial results of a detailed study in 1957, disclosed the presence of a structure of some interest in the Pointe-Indienne area.
This field stretches over a surface of approximately 1,000 hectares, and contains two superimposed storehouses. The upper storehouse is made up of conglomeratic sandstone impregnated with gas containing good physical characteristics, with a thickness generally bordering on 5 metres. The lower storehouse, impregnated with oil, exhibits very variable physical characteristics according to its constitution. Its average thickness is approximately 15 metres, but its width is very limited. Actually, this storehouse disappears as one moves south-eastwards. The two deposits are limited in the north-easterly direction by a fault in orientation going north-west, south—east.
E/CN.14/EP/3O
Page 18The petroleum derives from limestone situated in layers of salt and its accumulation is due to an anti-clinal going from the north—west to the .;.
south-east. As a matter of fact, the deposits are limited in the south easterly direction by a variation in the configuration of the storehouse. ; which becomes clayey and in the north-westerly direction by the water level.
It is also limited in the north by a dry bituminous obstruction which renders the storehouse impermeable.
The petroleum is of average quality verging on light with a low sulphur content. The reserves estimated in I960 at 1 million m of re coverable oil, if one takes into account the restrictive recovery factor of 25 per cent, seem to be of the order of 1.6 million m •
The exploitation of petroleum in the Republic of the Congo began in I960, and called for the building of a terminal situated on the edge of the coast a few kilometres north of Pointe Noire, with installations for the storage and evacuation of the raw product. The tankers moored off the coast are loaded with the help of a "sealine", 2,360 metres long*.
Various prospecting has continued but the results were disappointing.
The Pointe-Indiennc fields appear to be both complex and much more limited than the seismic data led one to believe. The exploratory drilling opera tions did not substantiate the presence of hydrocarbon fuels so far as the deeper layers were concerned; although they revealed the fairly constant presence of new storehouses immediately below the salt-bearing series.
The exploratory work carried out at sea led to similar conclusions to those reached as a result of the work done on land. A drilling operation carried out at the beginning of 1963( on one of the structural indications obtained through seismic processes, confirmed the thickness towards the west of the -salt-bearing series, and indicated in addition that it was the starting point of a focus of important movements expressed in the form of anomalies affecting the layers below the salt, and complicating still fuivther any research into deep structural factors.
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Page 19
The exploratory'- work was then abandoned, and will not be resumed ... until the technical problems raised by the presence of the salt-bearing
series are solved, these problems being actively studied by the Central Services of the Societ_e_dos Petroleg d'Africrue Equatoriale in Paris.
The SPAFE, established in 1949, resumed work in the Congo which had
been carried out by the S^ndicatd1 Etudes et de Rechcrchos Petrol!ores
(SEEP). In 1934? this Syndicate had itself replaced the Mission de Prospeotion Petroliere (MPP) of the Offic_e National des Combustibles.
Since 1958, SPAFE has been associated with Mobil which acts as the opera
ting company.
Petroleum production in the Republic of the Congo reached a maximum
of 123,393 tons of crude oil in 1962. It has decreased steadily since, . and in 1965 was only 70,987 tons,
11. A large part of the territory of Chad lies on sedimentary rocks which
are favourable to the formation and accumulation of hydrocarbon fuels.:Four distinct basins seem to bca of interest in this connexion. The Erdis and Djado plateaux, in the north, on either side of Tibesti seem to be due to a carboniferous marine fault. The Kanem basins, to the north of the Chad basin, and Eoba7 in the Mayo-Kejbi, soem to be due to a marine
Cretaceous fault-Previous studies of the Erdis basin had indicated that without the Nubian sandstone overlay, the marine carboniferous series outcropped from the Sudan frontier to the east, to the eastern edge of Tibesti. On the
other hand, no evidence of carboniferous lands has been observed further west of Tibesti,. It would therefore seem that this basin referred to as the Mourdi basin is completely independent of the Djado basin.In these circumstances, it is only logical to assume that the Mourdi
marine carboniferous fault came from the north probably from Libya, and
following a line along the north-east went round the crystalline Tibesti
massif and its extension into Lahone. This theory seems in fact to have
been confirmed by the slopes which move steadily towards the centre of the basin. It is therefore possible to believe that under the NubianE/CN.14/EP/30
Page 20
continental sandstones _ +;.iorr; c-,rc several primary marine series much larger than those observed in the Kourdi basin, and probably containing horizons that are likely to harbour parent rocks, thus making the Erdis basin in teresting to some extent from the petroleum standpoint.
Reconnaissance and research have been carried out by the Societe de ParticipationsPetrojjjres (PETROPAR) from 1961 to 1965, with a permit covering 152,000 km".in connexion with the sedimentary basin of the Erdis, .but this work has not gone beyond the stage of exploratory drilling opera
tions. As a result of the unfavourable results obtained, the Company has suspended work but contacts were later made with private specialized enter
prises with <j. view to continuing the work.
A recent sifting and collation of the geological, geophysical and hydrogeological studies carried out on the Doba pit corroborates the theory of the possible existence in the Cretaceous period of a marine link y/ith the Benoue basin. It is not therefore beyond the bounds of possibility that the Doba pit -r^- present marine Cretaceous formations which might perhaps have had parent rocks probably of interest from the standpoint of hydrocarbon fuels. But all these deposits have been hidden by the Tertiary and Quaternary accretions and it is not possible to check superfically the existence of a Ci-otaccoi^j »i-^r:'.uo invasion that may have come from the.
Benoue-
12. There are no known hydrocarbon deposits in the Central African ■- Republic. The only possibilities for petroleum deposits in that country seem to be closely linked with the sedimentary formations in Chad stemming from the Doba pit in the south-western portion of Chad. The geological accident which was revealed on the edge of the Central African shield, south of Doba, extends a great way towards the east and covers a portion
■of the territory of the Central African Republic close to the frontier,
13* The Cameroon coastal zone comprises a sedimentary basin divided into
two parts by the volcanic massif of Mount Cameroon. This basin includes
a considerable mass of sediment of marine origin, which has been found to
be oil-bearing in the south of J'ouala*.E/CN.14/BP/3O
Page 21
In the Douala basin, numerous deep shafts have been sunk and
indications of oil and natural gas found, during a preliminary research campaign conducted before I960. The quantities discovered have however been considered to bo too small to justify any economic operation. Indica tions of petroleum havo been discovered particularly at Souellaba at the
mouth of the Wouri.
Research was resumed as from 1364. At the present time, three petroleum companies are carrying out research on five permits covering a total of 24,000 km2 approximately. The offshore soundings which affect an area of
9,000 km2 are being actively pursued. A deep-lrilling platform is again
in operation in spite of some difficulties encountered 18 months &go, -It is heped that the first results of the 1967 prospecting will soon be known,
■but already they give promise of reasonable hope.
14. The Democratic Republic.of the Congo comprises a sedimentary basin which is favourable to the existence and accumulation of hydrocarbon fuels, in a narrow coastal,belt at the mouth of the Congo river. Nevertheless,
it would appear that the geological observation of the surface is limited in this tesin through the presence of a thick overlay of sands of recent origin. The rare outcrops that can be seen are thought to be essentially
located in the beds of the valleys bordering the basin.
The general conclusion reached by SOCOREP which undertook sampling campaigns in the Moanda area, was that the tectonic qualities of the basin are essentially faults, and the inter-play of these faults has led to t*
formation of structures affected by numerous longitudinal and traversal
fissures. Consequently, structures of the gently-sloping faulted type
should be expected in the basin.
Two drilling operation plants have been set up, the first at Lundu I in the Congolese portion of the Lower Congolese Basin and *••««*•*
Kanga I in the Vista structure. The first of these ha, revealed manifesta
tions of petroleum at a depth of 1,883 metres, but the flow of 01 and
saline water has not been sufficient to warrant economic exploitation. The
drilling was therefore stopped at 1,900 metres. The second has resulted
E/GN.14/EF/30
Page 22
a flow of salt water at the bottom of the shaft with a few traces of petroleum, but nevertheless of insufficient economic interest. This . sounding has also been stopped at 2,062.50 metres. Prospecting by SOCOHEP was suspended as from 1964, A second company, the SILICO, which carried
out offshore petroleum research had suspended its activities as from 1-963«
Prospecting in the interior of the Congolese basin was undertaken in the past. Certain wells have actually been drilled, but the sedimentary portion tackled seemed unfavourable to the formation and accumulation of hydrocarbon fuels.
Natural gas
15. Bearing in mind the fact that the resources in gas of Lake Kivu belong in common to the people living on both banks of the river, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda and that after an approximate geographical
distribution at least 3/5ths of the lake surface seemed to be situated on
the Congolese side, the known resources of gas in the Central African region,the value of which has been estimated, would be of the order of 37»6"3O
million m . Natural gas, dry or associated with crude oil, represents 3,630 million m and methane gas from Lake Kivu which belongs to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a theoretical reserve of 34*000 million
m (that is 3/5ths approximately of the total reserve estimated at 57|OOO million m ).
The distribution of these reserves is as follows (in millions of m ):
- Cameroon - Gabon
- Republic of - Democratic
the Congo
Republic of the Congo Total
2,
34.
37.
430 800 400 000 630
The total represents 46,478,000 tons of coal equivalent.
None of these reserves has yet been exploited in the sub-region,
with the exception of a very small quantity of natural gas used in Gabon
by the SPAPE boilers and the thermal power station of Port-Gentil.16. The most important reserve is the Lake Kivu reserve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has been actually established that the waters from the bottom of the lake contain deep"down, an appreciable quantity of gas in dissolution in which can be found methane, or marsh gas which derives from the anaerobic decomposition of plankton. Tlie total reserves of methane gas have been evaluated at 57, billion m , in other words subject to normal conditions of temperature and pressure, the thermal equivalent
of 54 million tons of coal at 7,000 kcal/kg.
Lake Kivu is shared by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
It has a superficial area of 3,900 km approximately, 3/5"ths of which more or less seems to belong to Congo (Kinshasa). Although the lake is apparent
ly deeper in the east than in the west, the following approximate distribution of the reserves may be made (in millions of m ):
Congo (Kinshasa) 34,000
Rwanda 23,000 •
Gas is found in dissolution in the deep waters of the lake as a result of high hydrostatic pressure in spite of the low solubility of the methane it contains. The reserves seem capable of being reconstituted, but there is no definite knowledge of the conditions of volume and time in which this can be done. The chemical composition of the gas is substantially as.
follows:
CIT" 22 to 24 per cent
CO2 73 to 75 per cent. .
Tests in the use of this gas have been carried out at Rwanda. A pilot methane-extracting installation plant has been set up at Gisenyi.
The gas extracted from the lake is used as fuel for one of the boilers of the Bralirwa brewery.
17, Gabon also has large reserves of natural gas, whether pure or associa ted with petroleum. The economically exploitable reserves are estimated . to be of the order of 2.8 billion m or the thermal equivalent of 3»724>COO
tons of coal at 7»000 kcal/kg. ;
£/Cm\ 14/et/jO
Page 24
The estimates of rational use of this gas would suggest that the following quantities are available for the industrial exploitation of
"fatal" gas, extracted at the same time as crude oil from the deposits
(Anguille at sea and Gamba, in millions of m3/day at the separation points):
1967 662
1963 652
1969 619
1970 595
1971 592
1972 583
1973 58O
At present, a small proportion of gas produced in Gabon is used
(approximately 10 per cent); the rest is burnt in an excess gas burner as
it comes from the pits.
18. Two pockets of natural gas have been discovered in Cameroon, one at Logbaba, ten kilometres approximately south-east of Douala and the other at Bomono, also on the strength of the permit for ground prospecting in Douala. The reserves have been estimated to be of the order of 400 million
m at Logbaba and 30 million m3 at Bomono.
Indications of natural gas have also been discovered in the sedimentary portion of the Garoua region but it is not yet possible to give any precise
details on the subject.The drilling operations at Logbaba and Bomono have been sealed off, pending a clear definition of the conditions for operating those reserves which are situated around Douala. The possibilities of using Cameroon gas
are at present being studied.
19. The reserves of natural gas in the Republic of the Congo are located
in the Pointe-Indienne region. They are estimated to be of the order of
400 million m of average gas but have not yet been exploited. Faced
with the rapid increase of electrical energy consumption in the Pointe
Noire area and the foreseeable needs in connexion with the exploitation
E/CNd4/EP/3O
Page 25
of the potassium mines at Holle, the Government has decided to use this gas exclusively for the thermal production of electricity.
20. In the Republic of Chad, samples taken in 1963 from the Bol-Guini polder situated on -the eastern bank of Lake Chad have led to the discovery of inflammable gas. This gas has not yet been studied but it may be
assumed that it is methane or "marsh gas" dissolved in the underground water level as a result of decomposition and fermentation of organic matter buried at the bottom of the lake. The low depth of the drilling
operations (10 to 15 metres) would lead one to the conclusion that this
gas is concentrated in the first aquiferous layer, exactly like the various salts some of which make it possible to produce natron by means of efflo
rescence.
The zone where gas is located at Bol would seem however to be limited to a restricted basin with a length of 3 kilometres and a width of 1
kilometre to a depth of about 150 metres. The Republic of Chad intends to carry out exploratory drilling operations from 80 to 130 metres to determine whether there is a permanent flow of gas, and whether there are possibilities for accumulating it in privileged zones, having regard to the very regular tectonic character of the deposits in the lagoons.
Bituminous factors
21. In certain parts of the sub-region, schists, sands and bituminous limestone as well as schistous oils are to be found mainly in the Congo basins. The size and importance of those reserves are not yet known, but they should be considerable.
22. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, huge schistous oil deposits are situated in the north-eastern por-tion of the Congo basin, mainly on
the Lualaba, a river between Kisangani (ex-Stanleyville) and Ponthierville.
There are also deposits on the Lomami river* The layers are approximately 10 metres thick and almost horizontal*
e/cn.14/EP/30
Page 26
Some schist samples have on distillation produced 100 to 150 litres of petroleum per ton, with 8c73 kg of ammonia sulphate, residual ash and 2.73 per cent carbon. However the petroleum extracted is attenuated by the free circulation of air and only produces 75 per cent of products that can be used after refining • The distillation of crude oil has led to the following results (contents in percentage):
Naphtha 12*65
Kerosene 29»55
Lubricating oil 24.30
Viscous oil 22.30
Residues 11.20
At Mavuma, in the coastal region at the mouth of the Congo, there are a series of sands and bituminous limestones forming a block 50 cm thick.
The percentage of the bituminous element varies from 12 to 18 per cent.
These rocks have been used in road works but have never been exploited as
a source of petroleum or thermal fuel.
The Bitumin Asphalt Company in the Congo has exploited these products
in Mayumbe (the former province of Leopoldville). The processing factory
which should produce pure bitumen, using the bituminous sands, has not yet been fully established and operations eventually ceased in 1958.
A concession for bituminous schists was granted in 19^9 to the Compagnie des Chemins do Fer in the Upper Congo on the Great Lakes. This Company
carried out an important prospecting campaign in the south-east of Kisangani
(ex-Stanleyville), A few products have been extracted for bituminous tests*
23. In the Republic of the Congo, sands and bituminous limestone are to be found to the north of Pointe Noire. Extensive indications of bitumen are located along the shore, x^ithin easy reach of the Mayumbe chain.
Tests as to whether the bitumen can be used for surfacing roads were carried
out during the last war. The- size and importance of the reserves are not yet known, but these might be of fairly substantial economic value.E/CN.14/EP/3O
Page 27
Research is now being carried out on the "bitumen and phosphate deposits in the sedimentary zone situated between the Mayumbe mountain chain and the shore.
24« In Gabon the presence of schistous oils has been noted in the "Coco shore" series, in the eastern portion of the sedimentary basin, but there is not as yet any precise information that may be used in this regard.
The probability is that schists are carboniferous.
Similarly, bituminous schists are located in the Lambarene region at N'Djole, but the observed substances seeping through do not seem to hold out any economic interest even from the standpoint of local operations.
No study has yet been carried out with a view to determining the possibilities of exploiting the various indications noted.
Coalt lignite ..
25- The only country which produces coal in the sub-region is the Demo cratic Republic of the Congo where definite reserves have been evaluated at 180 million tons and probable reserves at 750 million tons. The coal is to be found in two separate regions of the Katanga province, in the Luena basin and the Greinerville or Lukuga basin. The definite reserves represent approximately ISO million tons of coal equivalent.
26, At Luena, there are four layers of coal, varying in thickness from 0.50 metres to 5 metres producing altogether a thickness of 8.5O metres.
In other places in the basin, the layers tend to be thinner. The characteristics of Luena coal are as follows:
- Hydrometric coefficient 5«8 per cent
- Volatile substances 33-5 per cent
- Percentage of ash 21.0 per cent
- Fixed carbon 40.0 per cent
- Calorific value . 4»5OO to 5,000 calories per
.gramme.
E/CN.14/EP/30
Page 28The Luena coal has.been found to be of tho coking type and the reserves are estimated to be of the order of 150 million tons. But the coal is apparently difficult to exploit because of the tendency to spon taneous combustion. It is full of lignite and is exploited by open-cast mining.
At the present time, only the deposits at Kaluku, 7 kilometres from the main Luena deposits are being exploited. The Luena deposits have a large sterile overlay, which has led to their abandonment. The processing factory is situated opposite the Luena railway station, and its production
capacity is 10,000 tons/month. Its marketing is at present somewhat
difficult and the Luena Coal Company which was established in 1922, has shown a deficit since 1962.
27. In the Lukuga basin, there are five layers and seven thin belts of coal. The five layers are practically continuous and have a thickness of' between five to six metres. The verified reserves are 30 million tons and the probable reserves 750 million tons. The characteristics of the coal are substantially as follows:
- Hydrometric coefficient 6 per cent
- Volatile substances 31 per cent
- Percentage of ash 15 to 19 per cent
- Fixed carbon 45 per cent
- Calorific Value 6,000 calories per gramme.
The coal is fairly full of lignite and operations are carried out underground. The deposits that arc being worked are to be found in two layers, and operations on the first layer were terminated in September
1965. At present, a shaft is being sunk to reach the roof of the second
layer. Production has been very irregular.The operating company is situated at Greirerville near Albertville.
The only customer at present taking Lukuga coal is the cement works at
Albertville with an absorption capacity of 2t000 tons/month.
e/cn.14/EP/30
Page 29
_.,28* There are no known deposits of coal in the other co-untries~-of the
sub-region. However, in Gabon, small layers of lignite have been noted in., the "Coco shore" area, at the base of the sedimentary section of the coastal basin. A few small lenses separated by a negligible degree of thickness have been discovered. Indications have also been noted in the Bongo and Pougamou area, but these seem to be excessively small and are not of interest economically speaking. Carboniferous schists are located in the Pranceville and Dibandi region, but these exist in small quantities
and are very widely distributed.
In Cameroon, there are a few indications of coal to the north-east of Douala. Thin sporadic layers of lignite have been discovered at Dschang
and Ouagadougou in the Bamenda province.
In the Central African Republic, work carried out in 1964 to secure a technical verification of the indications of graphite noted in the Bambari area, have not produced any positive results. The whole of the so-called graphitic formations noted are in fact merely carbide schists of no economic importance. Only a few outcroppings of graphitic schists have been noted in the Akadjo river, but these are entirely without any graphite flakes. Similar formations have been noted in the Bouar area.
In the Republic of Chad, interesting indications might be associated with carboniferous sediments in the Tibesti plateau.
Radio-active
29. The radio-active mineral reserves in the sub-region are still uncertain.
A provisional estimate in tons of uranium metal would be approximately as
follows:
- definite reserves 14,000 tons
- possible reserves 25,000 tons
- probable reserves 55,000 tons
These reserves exist in Gabon, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in the Central African Republic. They are distributed as follows (in
tons of uranium metal).
E/CN.14/EP/30
Page 30
Country Definite " Possible Probable
reserves reserves reserves
Central African Republic 5,000 10,000 20,000
Gabon 4,000 - 10,000
Congo (Kinshasa) 5,000 15,000 25,000
30, The only country that produces uranium in the sub-region is at
present Gabon, Concentrates containing 400 tons of uranium on the average are exported each year, Gabon has a large uranium-bearing province between Moanda and Franceville, whose reserves have not yet been fully ascertained.
The Mounana deposits in the Franceville basin bordering on the Chaillu massif were discovered in 1955- The reserves of the higher portions have been estimated at 1 million tons of ore with a 4 per cent content, that is 4j000 tons of uranium, The probable reserves are estimated to be of the order of 10,000 tons of uranium metal. The exploitation of the first part of the deposits began with quarrying in 1961. At Mounana, 1965 was essentially a transitional year between quarrying operations and under ground operations in the lower parts of the deposits which began at the end of the year.
Operations are conducted by the Franceville Uranium Mining Company which was established in 1958s and includes the Commissariat a I'Energie Atomigue. the Mokta and Kulhmann companies.. . -,...:...
Uranium ore is processed and concentrated on the spot. For this purpose, a chemical ore processing factory with a capacity of 100,000 tons was built in 1961. In order to make the transport of the concentrate economical, it had to be dissolved in sulphuric acid before concentration.
The Franceville Uranium Mining Company was therefore compelled to manu facture this acid on the spot with imported sulphur. It built a small but very modern factory which made use of the catalytic method and from 1961 produced 14 tons of sulphuric acid a day. The uranate concentrates of magnesia which were obtained have a content of 32.5 per cent uranium.
E/CN.U/EP/30
Page 31
Deposits with radio-active e^^ntd oto than uranium have "been notei,,Jbut do not soern to offer good prospects for economic exploitation.
a^ is actively prosecuting the search for deposits with, as it would soon, very good chances of success. .
31. In the Democratic Eo-iblic of the Congo, the vranium deposits at Shinkolo-bwe, in KatanSa, are well known. They seem to exist in two layers, the first of ,*ich has been exhausted. ?he second layer which ia relatively deep has not ;/cb boon exploited. The theoretical reserves are estimated to be 5 million tons of ore and the probable reserves 3 million tons, while the definite reserves are put at 1 million tons, The second layer has not yet been exploited beosuso, for ono thing, there has been some regression in the world consumption of uranium since the
end of the last Uorid War, e-xL for another there have been difficulties
of extraction due to the great depth of the mir)9.
Up to 1959, the concentration factory at Shinkolobi:e has processed a total of 326,361 tons of ur^lum-bearing ore and produced 3,136 tons
of concentrates at 63.5 per cent U 0 .
32. In the Central A^c;n HcpitfOic, ths research being carried out in connexion with radio-^ive mineral has boon undertaken by the Commissariat
iio nir.ee 1?47, vjrior a general research permit..
Work undertaken fro,; 2^9 to I9ol ici to the dir: ~ - °f mineralized indications at H'Rrtou. Inportant SarnlinS has been carried out on the
•l. ■-, T-%-; ^ -^ -f-n -'-n- ^"oc7.^7 of ?args reserves. At
uranium-bearing scc-io,', to :. ■...K .^ocl ,o ,.u .. ^-^^--y Wj- ^
t . i . o . -:--^-o iVr"-"n^^t-i-i^ roina: on with a viev;
present there is a £°r;'-L ^-t'".i ■-■■- ---■■^-- p.---ojj^-^—& o -1»
to increasing these reserve,, ,:hi^ arc entimated to te of the order of 3,000 to 5,000 definite tens ox o*:/Ie ore, 5.0CO-10.000 possible tons
and 10,000-20,000 pioo;w.\o ;-!:'D. :
Recent analyse, carried out by the C^^as£kiiJV^E^sMSS3SS.
seem to have indicated th,t mineraliaaticn is-net of the classic "Autunite"
type, the prcoedurer, for processing which are well too™, The Bakouma
uranium would appear to to of similar type as the one which is extracted
E/CN.14/EP/30
Page 32
often in small concentrations from chalk superphosphates. Some of the ore was sent to the specialized laboratories of the Commissariat a
l'Energie Atomique in France where the procedures for processing the Central African uranium were studied. It does not seem that the results
will be known officially before 1968.33» Several radio-active ore deposits are known to exist in Cameroon.
It would appear that if serious prospecting were undertaken there is
every chance that economically exploitable deposits would be located.Research was carried out by the Commissariat a 1'Energie Atomioue with a view to exploiting the uranium deposits in the Poli region, but the conclusions were negative. Prospecting was carried out by a private individual on a permit which expired in October 1966, but the results
of the work done by this person are not known.34* In the Republic of the Congo, the lands situated within the Kelle -
Sembe - Ouesso seem to be favourable to substances of interest to atomic energy. Geologically speaking, this region is an interesting series, beingPrecambian detritic. All the petrographic and sedimentological character
istics would tend to associate it with the "Prancevillian" series in the Gabon territory, and would lead to the assumption that it is possibly bysimilarity, favourable to the presence of uranium-bearing mineralisations.
It was in 1964 that the Commissariat a I'Energie Atcmicrue really
succeeded in getting its first research work properly started in the field in preparation of a detailed photo-geological map of the area which is not easily accessible.In the Congo the main objective of the Commissariat a l'Energie
Atomicrue is essentially to make a detailed study of the region south of
the Niari, after uranium-bearing mineralizations were discovered in the
schist-limestone formations. In 1954-55i it completed its research in
this zone and embarked upon a study of uranium-bearing indications in the
Holle phosphates. These different undertakings have not given any con
clusive results.E/GN.14/EP/3O
Page 33
35. No uranium or thorium deposits have yet teen found in Chad. Mineral^
ogical indications of uranium have however been found in the northern part of the country in the Tibcsti.
Creothermal energy
36. The only electrical power station which makes use of geothermal energy in Africa is found in Kuabufewa in Katanga. The generator uses waters from a thermal source to produce low pressure vapour in vacuum which activates a turbo-alternator transformer. The power station con
sumes 40 litres of water at 9l°C per second. The developed power of 220
kW is used in operating a tin mine situated at a distance of 10 kilometres.
Other geothermal possibilities undoubtedly exist in east Congo,
connected with the depressions and the volcanic activity along the fringes
of the "Rifi Valley", particularly in the area between the Kivu and Edward
lakes where there are active volcanoes and in the Lake Moero area*37. A recent volcano mission which operated in Chad in April 1965
recommended the study of the possibilities in geothermal energy from : thermal sources, and from the fumerollian fields of Soborom-Soudarom, in the Tibesti mountains, about 50 kilometres from BardaS!. In thiszone, the mission pointed out some thermal sources, sources of gas and
even vapour constantly overheated, coming up to the surface with atemperature in excess of the temperature of boiling water at this height
(from 91. to 121°C).
The fumerollian field, which skirts a series of fissures running east to west, has altered the volcanic formation over a distance three kilometres long by one kilometre wide« The active fumerolles and the thermal sources seem to be at present very irregularly distributed over a belt of one kilometre.
There is some intention of conducting preliminary research with the
help of the Universite Libre de Berlin.38. Geothermal possibilities exist in the Federal Republic of Cameroon probably associated with the present volcanic activity of Mount Cameroon- No study has however yet been undertaken to gain any precise information of the possible geothermal potential of the area.
E/CN.14/EP/3O
Page 3439» Thermal sources exist in certain parts of the Central African Republic.
A reconnaissance campaign for thermal sources began in 1965- Samples were taken from a source near Dassekou, 15 kilometres north of Dekoa and 2 kilometres approximately to the cast of the N'Demayo village. The water
o . .. -
temperature at 5 resurgent points is 54 C, and the overall rate of flow
is estimated to be about 40 m /hour.
In addition reconnaissances have been carried out over a warm source
at 42 C in the Ambilo (Yalinga) area. Other prospecting operations are
being envisaged to prepare an inventory of the thermal mineral resources of the Central African Republic.
40. No geothermal indications have yet been noted in Gabon or in the Republic of the Congo. There are a few thermal sources in Gabon, but the temperatures recorded at soil level are relatively low and do not seem to be due to any geothermal anomaly.
Solar energy
41. The solar radiation level is very high in Chad, particularly in the northern part of the country. The physical conditions there appear to be favourable to the use of solar energy, but no action in this field has yet been envisaged by the public authorities who are no doubt waiting to know the results of the United Nations Experimental Centre at Niamey.
Having regard to the present impoverished state of the country where interesting forms of primary energy are concerned, installations which would make it possible to exploit solar energy economically would be of great interest there
42. In other parts of the sub-region with the exception of the northern part of the Cameroon and the Central African Republic, the presence of the equatorial forest which is very dense and humid, and covers a large part of the territories of the various States, makes the exploitation of this form of primary energy difficult. No research has, yet. been carried out with a view to determining its use-
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Wind
43- No installations which make use of wind energy in the region have been noted. Apart from Chad, North Cameroon and the Central African Republic, the physical conditions do not seem favourable to its use, particularly in the densely forested countries.
. . ■ The study of the use of this form of energy would seem however to be as interesting as the use of solar energy, for those regions which are poor in energy resources. ••:■-
Energy from vegetable sources
44• The use of firewood, charcoal and waste agricultural products is still very important in the countries of the sub-region.
In Chad, wood and charcoal are used for domestic purposes, while cotton carding factories use approximately 22,000 tons of cotton grain to produce electricity and generate steam.
In the Central African Republic, the use of wood and its by-products as fuel, is very important in the timber industry and local handicrafts but there are no precise statistics on this subject. Charcoal and fire wood are used to a great extent for domestic purposes, particularly, in the urban centres.
In Cameroon, the production of ..lignous.-fuel is not well known. Never theless it has been noted that the average annual rate of growth in the ---consumption-of- charcoal and firewood was'close on 4 per cent from1 X959 ^°
In Gabon, although the tropical forest occupies 225,000 of the
267,000 km of the country's superfical area, the use of vegetable fuel
2 as a source of energy for domestic purposes, handicraft and small indus-*- tries, is not well known.The absence of official statistics in this respect is no doubt explained by the fact that this is a negligible activity in a country where timber is one of the chief sources of wealth.
