History of Port Gentil

A street in Port-Gentil

The town was named after the French colonial administrator Émile Gentil in 1900. After World War I it became a port for timber, but it grew rapidly only after Elfbegan oil exploration in the area. It received its first bank branch when Bank of West Africa (BAO), opened a branch there in 1928.

A 1947 population of 4,500 grew to 21,000 by 1960. An oil refinery was established by SOGARA in the 1960s, with natural gas added in 1968.

The town is now known for its hotels and its nightlife, while