In Gabon, Libreville International Airport (ADL) is focusing on sustainable waste management to boost its environmental performance.
With a capacity of 1.2 million passengers a day, Libreville International airport (ADL) is one of the most dynamic in terms of air traffic within the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC), after Douala in Cameroon. With an ever-increasing number of flights to a variety of destinations, and intense economic activity in the surrounding area, waste production has rapidly become an obstacle to the attractiveness of the terminals.
For example, in the second half of 2023, at least 28,380 plastic materials and residues were counted on the mangrove of the capital Libreville, near the new ADL terminal. And GSEZ Airport doesn’t want that. The operator of Gabon’s main airport has embarked on a series of measures to achieve carbon neutrality. These include the “zero waste in the mangrove” project, which is designed to raise awareness of eco-responsible practices among staff and users, and promote waste recycling. The ultimate aim is to preserve local ecosystems and enhance travelers’ well-being.
Focus on sustainability
This environmental approach and other eco-responsible management efforts have earned Libreville International Airport the Airport Carbon Accreditation distinction. This is a first in Central Africa. It was recently awarded by Airports Association International (ACI Africa), which supports air transport operators in reducing their carbon footprint. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the air transport sector accounts for 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Read also- GABON: « La Baie des Rois », an eco-construction project in the heart of Libreville
Other African countries are already realizing the urgency of the situation. This is the case in Cape Verde, where the authorities are implementing a project to renovate and decarbonize seven airports. The initiative is being financed to the tune of 20 million euros by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector financing arm of the World Bank Group. The work, piloted by the subsidiary of French group Vinci Airports, involves upgrading street lighting with energy-saving LED bulbs and installing solar kits at targeted sites.
Benoit-Ivan Wansi
