Is there a shortage of mineral water in Libreville?

Crowd in front of a mineral water sales depot in Damascus city in Libreville © Gabonactu.com

It’s the blue gold rush in Libreville where the queues have been full for several weeks in front of the wholesalers’ depots and other mineral water distributors in the Gabonese capital.

In supermarkets, supermarkets and convenience stores, the shelves dedicated to mineral water are desperately empty all week long.

According to several traders, there is no increase in prices but no one understands what is happening. Brands popular with Gabonese people are no longer available as before. These are the Andza, Akewa, Origen and La Source brands.

Every time a cargo is delivered, it’s war. Some traders use trickery and bribes to have a larger stock. Wholesalers are forced to limit quantities to satisfy everyone.

This trader is happy to have obtained a good quantity of mineral water © Gabonactu.com

There is disarray in households where three quarters of households hardly drink tap water anymore, the quality and taste of which are not reassuring.

There is every reason to fear speculation in the face of this shortage which does not reveal its name, even if in stores and other retail resellers, the prices of the pack and the unit of the bottle of mineral water have not haven’t taken the elevator yet.

For the moment, there is still radio silence from the production companies of the various brands marketed in Libreville, just as there is no communication on the issue from the Gabonese government.

To quench thirst during this period of severe heatwaves, Libreville residents are forced to drink sodas.

Elliott to Ana Mervei