Three primary energy sources make up the energy mix in Guinea: fossil biomass, oil and hydropower. Biomass (firewood and charcoal) makes the largest contribution in primary energy consumption. [1] It is locally produced, while Guinea imports all the petroleum products it needs. [1] The potential for hydroelectric power generation is high, but largely untapped. Electricity is not available to a high percentage of Guineans, especially in rural areas, and service is intermittent, even in the capital city of Conakry.
The estimated 2012 national consumption was 903 million kWh. [2] Consumption per individual was less than the equivalent of half a ton of petroleum, broken down into 80% from biomass, 18% from hydrocarbons and 2% from electricity. [3]
At the national level, 34% of the population have access to electricity. In rural areas where 8.1 million people reside, 7% have access to electricity. [4]
In 1995, firewood was by far the greatest source of energy, accounting for 85%. [5] In 2008, biomass accounted for 89%. [1] According to a 2012 International Monetary Fund paper, over 74% of households use firewood for cooking. [3] 23% use charcoal. [3]
The Electricité Nationale de Guinée (National Electricity Company of Guinea) is responsible for all production and distribution of electricity in the country. [6] However, service is poor; even households in Conakry are served less than 12 hours a day. [3] According to The World Factbook, as of 2013, only 53% of urban areas and 11% of rural areas had access to electricity, leaving 8.7 million people without it. [2] There is also a sharp east-west divide: west of the Ouré-Kaba- Tougué axis, nearly 30% had electricity, but that figure dropped to barely over 5% to the east. [3]
In 2013, electricity production was an estimated 971 million kWh. [2] In 2012, an estimated 67.8% of the electricity was obtained from fossil fuel and the remainder from hydroelectric plants. [2] The country has considerable hydropower potential - about 6000 megawatts (MW) or 19,300 GWh annually - but taps only a small percentage of it. [1] [5] [3]
The country is currently engaged in interconnection projects such as the sub-regional Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (Sénégal River Basin Development Organization), [7] Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie (Gambia River Basin Development Organization) [7] and West African Power Pool. [8]
The country has no known reserves. [2] It imported an estimated 9,089 bbl/day in 2012. [2]
Guinea is believed to have substantial potential for renewable energy. Potential resources for hydroelectricity is estimated at 4,740 MW. [9] Government policy seeks to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewables, and cut local electricity tariffs. [9]
The country plans to install off-grid solar systems in rural areas to improve access to electricity. [4] The mini-grids will have capacities between 10 kilowatts to 10 MW. [10]
Three primary energy sources make up the energy mix in Guinea: fossil biomass, oil and hydropower. Biomass (firewood and charcoal) makes the largest contribution in primary energy consumption. [1] It is locally produced, while Guinea imports all the petroleum products it needs. [1] The potential for hydroelectric power generation is high, but largely untapped. Electricity is not available to a high percentage of Guineans, especially in rural areas, and service is intermittent, even in the capital city of Conakry.
The estimated 2012 national consumption was 903 million kWh. [2] Consumption per individual was less than the equivalent of half a ton of petroleum, broken down into 80% from biomass, 18% from hydrocarbons and 2% from electricity. [3]
At the national level, 34% of the population have access to electricity. In rural areas where 8.1 million people reside, 7% have access to electricity. [4]
In 1995, firewood was by far the greatest source of energy, accounting for 85%. [5] In 2008, biomass accounted for 89%. [1] According to a 2012 International Monetary Fund paper, over 74% of households use firewood for cooking. [3] 23% use charcoal. [3]
The Electricité Nationale de Guinée (National Electricity Company of Guinea) is responsible for all production and distribution of electricity in the country. [6] However, service is poor; even households in Conakry are served less than 12 hours a day. [3] According to The World Factbook, as of 2013, only 53% of urban areas and 11% of rural areas had access to electricity, leaving 8.7 million people without it. [2] There is also a sharp east-west divide: west of the Ouré-Kaba- Tougué axis, nearly 30% had electricity, but that figure dropped to barely over 5% to the east. [3]
In 2013, electricity production was an estimated 971 million kWh. [2] In 2012, an estimated 67.8% of the electricity was obtained from fossil fuel and the remainder from hydroelectric plants. [2] The country has considerable hydropower potential - about 6000 megawatts (MW) or 19,300 GWh annually - but taps only a small percentage of it. [1] [5] [3]
The country is currently engaged in interconnection projects such as the sub-regional Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (Sénégal River Basin Development Organization), [7] Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie (Gambia River Basin Development Organization) [7] and West African Power Pool. [8]
The country has no known reserves. [2] It imported an estimated 9,089 bbl/day in 2012. [2]
Guinea is believed to have substantial potential for renewable energy. Potential resources for hydroelectricity is estimated at 4,740 MW. [9] Government policy seeks to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewables, and cut local electricity tariffs. [9]
The country plans to install off-grid solar systems in rural areas to improve access to electricity. [4] The mini-grids will have capacities between 10 kilowatts to 10 MW. [10]