All About Neves: The Industrial Hub of São Tomé Island

Neves, São Tomé and Príncipe

All About Neves: The Industrial Hub of São Tomé Island

Neves is a coastal town located on the northwest coast of São Tomé Island, in the nation of São Tomé and Príncipe. Serving as the seat of the Lembá District, the town had a population of 10,068 inhabitants as of the 2012 census.

Far more than just a quiet coastal settlement, Neves stands out as the country's primary industrial and energy hub due to several strategic infrastructure projects.

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📍 Geographical Subdivisions

The main neighborhoods and subdivisions that make up the town of Neves include:

• Benga
• Rosema
• Água Tomá
• Bom Sucesso
• Praia de Ponta Figo

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🏗️ An Industrial and Energy Center

Unlike most of São Tomé Island, which remains largely rural, Neves hosts some of the country's few major industrial facilities. These include:

• A local brewery, which is one of the island's rare manufacturing plants.
• A hybrid power plant fueled by natural gas and solar energy. Built in 2014 by an Angolan consortium, the plant has a production capacity of 30 megawatts of gas power, supplemented by an additional 5 megawatts of clean solar energy.

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⚓ The Deep-Water Port: A Strategic Partnership with Nigeria

Neves features a massive deep-water fuel port. This project was established in 2012 through a bilateral agreement between São Tomé and Príncipe and Nigeria, functioning under a Joint Development Zone (JDZ).

Key Features of the Port

• A 400-meter (1,300 ft) jetty extending directly off the coast.
• A depth of 20 meters (66 ft), allowing the port to accommodate two Panamax-sized vessels simultaneously.

Terms of the Collaboration

Funding and the construction processing contract for the port were provided by the Nigerian government and the Joint Development Authority Investment. In return for this heavy investment, the government of São Tomé and Príncipe provided the construction land and granted a tax holiday to the project's investors.

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