This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/2/2019

Overview

The Guinean government has announced a long-term energy strategy focusing on solar and hydroelectric power as a way to promote environment-friendly development and to take advantage of Guinea’s abundant water supplies. The Kaleta dam, which came online in 2015, is the first step in this strategy, which includes restructuring Guinea’s electricity parastatal and new power lines connecting Guinea to its neighbors. The Guinean government has also been bullish on building on Guinea’s power generating capacity from thermal and renewable sources, signing conventions with two U.S. firms in 2016.  Construction of the 450MW Souapiti dam (scheduled for completion in 2020) will effectively double the amount of power available.  Distribution remains a challenge, but if solved, could allow Guinea to export power.  Guinean authorities do not keep statistics on renewable energy as a discrete sector.

Guinea is a partner of Power Africa. Launched in 2013, Power Africa is a market-driven, U.S. Government-led public-private partnership to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. It offers private sector entities tools and resources to facilitate doing business in Africa’s power sector. In 2016, the Electrify Africa Act institutionalized Power Africa. Learn more about the full Power Africa toolbox (https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/toolbox) or other opportunities offered by Power Africa (https://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica).
 

Leading Sub-Sectors

Guinea’s rivers show great potential for hydroelectric power.  With Kaleta completed, the government plans to invest in several smaller dams in the near future and has secured Chinese funding for the USD 1.3 billion Souapiti dam, which will be twice Kaleta’s size, cost, and generation capacity. Located several kilometers upstream from Kaleta, Souapiti will regulate the Konkoure River to ensure that Kaleta can operate at full capacity even during the dry season. Solar power is also growing in popularity for both corporate and residential use.
 

Opportunities

In April 2015, the government chose French firm Veolia to manage the state-operated electric company Electricité De Guinée (EDG), widely regarded as having been mismanaged for decades. Veolia received a four-year contract to implement a recovery plan for the indebted utility.  The government hopes to privatize or seek a public-private partnership for the utility following the conclusion of Veolia’s contract.  The management of formerly state-owned enterprises (SOEs) could be an opportunity for U.S. companies.

U.S. manufacturers such as General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, and others could see increased opportunities for sales of power generation turbines in Guinea as the country develops its hydro potential to meet domestic and regional demand.
 

Web Resources

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.