Republic of Gabon - Foreign Policy Statement
Republic of Gabon - Foreign Policy Statement
Republic of Gabon - Foreign Policy Statement
Weerawarana
Gabonese Republic
Questions
1. Shifting
to
sustainable/nuclear
energy
and
its
impact
on
international
peace
and
security.
2. Protection
of
and
sustainable
use
of
non-renewable
energy
resources.
1. a)
Does
the
Republic
of
Gabon
support
statement
one?
Yes.
b)
What
has
the
Republic
of
Gabon
done
to
support
or
condemn
statement
one?
The
Gabonese
republic
believes
that,
to
quote
President
Ali
Bongo
Odimba,
each
country
has
the
right
to
choose
its
energy
sources
and
we
do
not
see
any
resources
being
prohibited.
The
Gabonese
government
also
directly
supported
the
use
of
nuclear
energy,
by
allowing
the
French
government
to
mine
Uranium
in
the
city
of
Franceville
in
the
Oklo
region
for
forty
years
from
1956.
In
addition
to
supporting
the
development
and
usage
of
nuclear
energy,
the
government
of
the
Gabonese
Republic
not
only
endorses
the
use
of
sustainable
energy
resources,
but
also
uses
hydroelectric
power
to
make
up
76%
of
Gabons
total
electricity
output.
In
terms
of
international
security,
the
Gabonese
Republic
believes
that
the
United
Nations
(UN)
and
other
allies
should
assist
countries
to
set
up
nuclear
reactors,
and
ensure
their
security.
In
addition,
the
Gabonese
Republic
believes
that
the
UN
should
set
up
a
form
of
guidelines
and
regulation
checks
to
ensure
that
the
Uranium
used
in
nuclear
reactors
is
used
entirely
for
energy
generation
purposes
and
not
for
nuclear
warheads.
c)
What
does
the
Republic
of
Gabon
plan
to
do
in
the
future
to
support
or
condemn
statement
one?
In
terms
of
nuclear
energy
development,
to
date,
the
Gabonese
Republic
has
no
intentions
to
harness
and
develop
1/28/12
Rukmal Weerawarana
Gabonese Republic
nuclear energy reactors not because the government does not support them, but mainly due to the high investment required. As for sustainable energy however, research conducted by the Socit d'Electricit et dEaux du Gabon (SEEG), the authority for Electricity in Gabon shows that Gabon has 6000 MW (Mega Watts) of undeveloped hydroelectric power. Because of this, the Gabonese government has plans to develop these areas, which would not only allow Gabon to be completely sustained by hydroelectric power, but it would also allow the Republic of Gabon to become one of the first countries on the planet to achieve its full hydroelectric potential. 2. a) Does the Republic of Gabon support statement two? Yes. b) What has the Republic of Gabon done to support or condemn statement two? The Republic of Gabon is the fourth largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and has the fourth largest oil reserves in the region, which is the equivalent of 3, 684, 000, 000 barrels of oil. Gabon exports approximately 245, 000 barrels of oil per day. This export is 80% of the Republic of Gabons total exports and plays a significant role in the Gabonese economy. Within the Republic of Gabon, the SEEG has approximated that 24% of the countrys total electricity production is through the burning of fossil fuels. The Gabonese governments view on the matter is that the UN should take measures to supply countries with large deposits of non-renewable energy sources, such as crude oil with funding, to develop them to better the countrys economy. In addition, the Republic of Gabon also believes that the UN should set up a committee that actively puts forward and enforces regulations regarding the proper use of fossil fuels, with regard to the issue of global warming. c) What does the Republic of Gabon plan to do in the future to support or condemn statement two? Research conducted by the National Authority for Oil Production in Gabon - Socit Nationale Petrolire Gabonaise (SNPG) - indicated that the Republic of Gabon has untouched oil reserves, that could increase the countrys oil export by 50, 000 barrels per day. The Republic of Gabon has taken measures to encourage the development of such sites by the SNPG. Internationally, the stance of the Republic of Gabon would remain the same; encouraging the sustainable use of non- renewable energy sources by countries. The Republic of Gabon strongly advises the UN to provide funding for lower income countries (LICs) to develop their respective non-renewable energy sources.
1/28/12