OWENDO

deepwater port, northwestern Gabon, on the north shore of the Gabon Estuary; it serves the national capital, Libreville (9 miles north-northwest), and was designed to handle ore vessels. It has a seaplane base and road connections with Libreville, Cocobeach, Mdouneu, and Kango. In 1978 the first 115-mile (185-kilometre) segment of the Trans-Gabon Railway was opened, linking Owendo with Ndjol in the interior. Further construction extended the line toward the mineral-rich northeast, to carry iron ore from Belinga (as well as timber and agricultural products from Belinga, Makokou, Boou, Alemb, and Kango) to the coast for export. In Owendo, sawmills and a plywood factory process hardwoods (notably okoum) for export, and there is a pelletization factory for iron ore and a hydroelectric power station. An experimental stock-raising station and a technical school are in the town.