On November 5, 2026, Guinea's Foreign Minister, Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté, stated that the country had no electricity on September 5, 2021. This claim has been disputed by various sources, including the country's energy infrastructure and international statistics. According to Mediaguinee, the minister's statement does not align with the existing energy infrastructure and statistics from reputable institutions.
Guinea had a significant number of hydroelectric power plants, thermal installations, and transportation and distribution infrastructure in place before September 2021. The country had eight hydroelectric power plants, including the Grandes Chutes, Kinkon, Banéah, Donkéa, Tinkisso, Garafiri, Kaléta, and Souapiti dams. These plants had a combined installed capacity of approximately 818 MW. The Souapiti dam, which began producing electricity in 2020, had an installed capacity of 450 MW.
The history of Guinea's energy infrastructure dates back to the 1950s, with the construction of the Grandes Chutes dam in 1954. The Kinkon dam was built in 1966, followed by the Banéah dam in 1969. The Donkéa and Tinkisso dams were constructed in 1970 and 1974, respectively. The Garafiri dam, with a capacity of 75 MW, was commissioned in 1999. More recently, the Kaléta dam, with a capacity of 240 MW, began operations in 2015.
According to the World Bank, approximately 46.8% of Guinea's population had access to electricity in 2021. This figure is close to the 46.62% reported in official data for September 5, 2021. The country's energy sector has faced significant challenges, including frequent power outages, inadequate distribution networks, and disparities between urban and rural areas.
Despite these challenges, Guinea's energy sector has made progress in recent years. Between 2021 and 2023, the country's electricity access rate increased from 46.62% to 53%. This growth can be attributed to the expansion of the grid, new connections, rural electrification, and the completion of electrical substations. The construction of the Boké electrical substation, for example, has enabled the supply of electricity to new localities.
The country's regional interconnection infrastructure, including the CLSG network connecting Guinea to Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, has also enhanced the exchange of electricity. However, the increase in the number of people connected to the grid does not necessarily translate to an equivalent increase in national production. Improving access to electricity can be achieved by extending the grid and connecting new households without building new large dams.
The fundamental question remains as to why Guinea, despite having significant energy infrastructure, including the Garafiri, Kaléta, and Souapiti dams, struggles to provide regular electricity to its population. The government's response to this question should be based on precise, quantifiable, and verifiable data. The country's energy sector requires a realistic debate based on facts, rather than claims that distort historical reality.
Key points
- The claim that Guinea had no electricity on September 5, 2021, is historically and technically inaccurate.
- Guinea had a significant number of hydroelectric power plants and other energy infrastructure in place before September 2021.
- The country's energy sector has faced challenges, but has made progress in recent years, with an increase in electricity access from 46.62% to 53% between 2021 and 2023.
