Port-Gentil

Port-Gentil, city in western Gabon, capital of Ogooué-Maritime Prefecture, on an island in the Ogooué River estuary east of Cape Lopez. The city is an important center of the Gabon petroleum industry as well as a sport and commercial fishing center. Exports include timber, petroleum, fish, cacao, and forest products from the interior. Local industries include fish processing, oil refining, sawmilling, and plywood fabricating. The community was originally a hunting camp called Mandji-Oroungou; a French post was established in 1885. The town developed after 1932 and was organized in 1956. Population (1993 estimate) 125,000.