National Economy
The population of the Republic of Guinea is approximately 13.55 million people[1]. In 2019, only 42.42% of the people in this West African country had access to electricity[2].
In 2019, Guinea’s economy was ranked 112th in gross domestic product (GDP) in the world[3]. The country’s economy is dependent[4] on the export of Gold, Aluminum Ore, Aluminum Oxide, Fish, Coconuts, Cashews and Brazil Nuts.
Environment Policies
In 2016, Guinea signed the Paris Climate Agreement[5], committing to a 13% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1994 levels and contingent on international support.
In 2019, state-owned utility Electricité De Guinée used renewable energy (62.8 %) and oil (37.8 %) to generate electricity in the country[6]. Hydropower and solar are the types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Guinea.
Recent renewable energy projects in Guinea include:
- 450 MW Hydropower Project – In September 2020, China International Water & Electric Corporation, a state-owned company of the People’s Republic of China completed the construction of the Souapiti Dam, located approximately 70 miles northeast of Guinea’s capital, Conakry.
- 82 MW Solar Projects – German renewable energy company, Clean Power Generation is continuing work on solar projects in the towns of Boké, approximately 100 miles northwest of Conakry and the coastal town of Kamsar, approximately 30 miles southwest of Boké.
- 40 MW Solar Project – In May 2021, British and French renewable energy companies InfraCo Africa and Solveo Energie have begun work on the Khoumagueli Solar project at a site approximately 175 miles northeast of Conakry.
Conclusions
All the oil used to fuel Guinea’s electric power plants must be imported. Importation of foreign oil has crippled Guinea’s economies, which is one of the poorest countries in the world.
Guinea has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources including solar, hydropower, and biomass. If developed, Guinea’s renewable energy resources could provide clean, low cost electricity to everyone in the country.
Over the past twenty years, Guinea’s government has struggled to fund new renewable energy projects. Fortunately, international aid organizations are now investing in renewable energy projects in this beautiful African country.
Renewable energy is now increasing Guinea’s access to electricity
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
[1] Guinea Population (2021) – September 10, 2021, www.worldometers.info
[2] World Bank, “Access To Electricity (% Population) – Guinea”
[3] Gross Domestic Product 2019 – World Bank DataBank
[4] The Observatory of Economic Complexity – Guinea
[5] Carbon Brief “Paris 2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”
[6] International Renewable Energy Agency, Energy Profile: Guinea