Oyala

Oyala
Djibloho
Future Capital city

Construction of highways in Oyala
Oyala
Coordinates: 1°36′14″N 10°49′35″E / 1.60389°N 10.82639°E / 1.60389; 10.82639Coordinates: 1°36′14″N 10°49′35″E / 1.60389°N 10.82639°E / 1.60389; 10.82639
Country  Equatorial Guinea
Province Wele-Nzas Province
Estimated completion 2020
Area
 • Total 81.5 km2 (31.5 sq mi)
Elevation 454 m (1,490 ft)
Time zone WAT

Oyala (also known as Djibloho[1]) is a city that is being built to be the future capital of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea,[2] replacing the city of Malabo.[3] The planned city's location was chosen for its easy access and benign climate. The construction of this new capital has been criticised by the political opposition to President Teodoro Obiang, the driving force behind the initiative. It is located in Wele-Nzas Province, near the town of Mengomeyén.[4]

The city was designed by Portuguese studio for architecture and urbanism FAT – Future Architecture Thinking. It is projected to have around 200,000 inhabitants,[5] a new Congress building, a number of presidential villas[6] and an area of 8150 hectares.[7][8]

Location

The location of the city is planned to be in the Wele-Nzas Province, in the continental region of the country. The future capital will be located between the cities of Bata and Mongomo and 20 km from the airport of Mengomeyen. The power supply relies upon the 120 MW Djibloho Dam in the district Djibloho Evinayong.[9]

Planning and construction

Jungle at Oyala
Bridge on the scheduled presidential residence (2010)

In the middle of the undeveloped jungle, the government plans to build a new city as the future seat of government.[10][5] It will be the headquarters of the president, government, administration, police and military leadership[10] and replace the current capital Malabo. The population of Oyala can be up to 160,000–200,000 people, living in an area of 81.5 km². This corresponds to about a quarter of the population of Equatorial Guinea.

A golf course, a university, and a luxury hotel were finished in 2013 and a six-lane highway is almost complete.[10] In planning are government buildings, a financial district and residential areas. Three bridges and highways have been completed or are under construction (see picture left). There will be a connection between the city to the new airport in Mengomeyen (the home of the president). The strategic importance of the port city of Bata will be developed for the neighbouring Gabon and for Central Africa. For the highways huge jungle areas were cleared and lanes blown up (see picture left). The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce (AICEP) said the city should use renewable energy and be sustainable.

Funding is provided through the AICEP. The plans come from a Portuguese architectural office.[11] By 2020, the city will be completed.[10] The construction work will be supported by Poland, Brazil and North Korea.[10] Construction faces delays such as, according to unconfirmed reports, President Obiang ordering a building to be moved because he did not like the view.[10] Additionally, all materials are imported.[10]

Urban design

The city was designed by the Portuguese urban architecture FAT - Future Architecture Thinking, and there have been several estimates of the size of its population, from about 65,000 initially[12] to estimates upward estimate a capacity of between 160,000 and 200,000.

The city will be built on an area of 8,150 hectares (81.5 km2 or 20,100 acres)[7][8] According to FAT, the Djibloho project "combines modernity and respect for the cultural roots of the country, promoting local identity and the richness of the ecosystem in which it operates, prioritizing sustainability in the most varied aspects" stressing that "this project aims to create the first global capital entirely dependent on renewable and sustainable energy."

Participating companies

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jacey Fortin (19 December 2012) Poverty-Stricken Equatorial Guinea Builds Expensive Capital City In The Middle Of Nowhere. ibtimes.com
  2. ↑ Empresas portuguesas planeiam nova capital da Guiné Equatorial. africa21digital.com. 5 November 2011
  3. ↑ Atelier luso desenha futura capital da Guiné Equatorial. boasnoticias.pt. 5 November 2011
  4. ↑ Equatorial Guinea’s Future Capital City/IDF– Ideias do Futuro|ArchDaily
  5. 1 2 Oyala, una nueva capital para la megalomanía de Obiang. abc.es. 26 December 2012
  6. ↑ Una nueva ciudad en Guinea Ecuatorial
  7. 1 2 Arquitetos portugueses projetam nova capital para Guiné Equatorial. piniweb.com.br. 10 November 2011
  8. 1 2 Mauricio Lima (4 November 2011) Ateliê português desenha futura capital da Guiné Equatorial. greensavers.pt.
  9. ↑ Mines Minister visits the site of Djibloho. guineaecuatorialpress.com. 16 September 2010
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stephen Sackur (17 December 2012). "BBC News: Equatorial Guinea: Obiang's future capital, Oyala". Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Djibloho – Equatorial Guinea’s Future Capital City / IDF – Ideias do Futuro . archdaily.com
  12. ↑ AFP (2 December 2011). "Guinée équatoriale: grands travaux pour convert a village in métropole". Romandie News.
  13. ↑ Muriel Devey (14 May 2012). "Guinée équatoriale – BTP: Oyala, la folie des grandeurs". jeuneafrique.com.

External links

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