Guinea's electricity surge: powering local small businesses and communities

In the bustling mining city of Boké, 171 kilometers from the Guinean capital, Conakry—the sound of welding torches and laughter now fills the air where silence and darkness once reigned. For years, frequent outages and unreliable service fueled frustration and even social protests, as residents demanded a fair share of the region’s mineral wealth. For Safiatou Bangoura, a young local entrepreneur and welder, the arrival of reliable electricity marked the beginning of a new chapter—not just for her, but for her entire community.

For years, Safiatou rose before dawn, determined to make the most of every hour before blackouts brought her workshop to a standstill. “I used to wake up at 1 a.m., just to get a few hours of work in before the power went out,” she recalls, wiping her brow in the bustling shop. “Every franc I earned seemed to disappear into the fuel tank of my generator. Saving was impossible.”

Safiatou’s story reverberates across Boke, a region where, until recently, power outages were as routine as sunrise. Small business owners and households faced a daily struggle against unreliable electricity, soaring operating costs, and, at times, civil unrest fueled by frustration over service failures. Many, like Safiatou, depended on noisy, polluting generators just to keep their businesses afloat. “I used to spend over 300,000 GNF (about $35 US) every single day just on fuel,” underscoring the heavy financial burden that unreliable grids imposed on local entrepreneurs. The constant threat of blackouts not only stifled productivity but also forced business owners to divert hard-earned income toward generator fuel, leaving little room for savings or growth.

The Gambia River Basin development organization interconnection project: a game changer to powering jobs

The commissioning of the Gambia River Basin Development Organization (or OMVG – Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie) Interconnection Project marked a turning point. The World Bank–financed initiative built a 225 kv transmission ring linking Guinea to Senegal, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau, enabling electricity trade and access to clean hydropower. In Boké, new transmission lines and sub-stations, commissioned in late 2022, finally brought stable, affordable electricity to thousands, sparking new small businesses, revitalizing local industries, and creating much-needed jobs.

"The day the lights came on, it was like a burden lifted”, says Safiatou. Freed from the tyranny of generator costs, she invested her savings in a second welding shop, hired five local employees, doubled her client base, and tripled her monthly income. Stories like hers illustrate how reliable power is not just lighting homes, it is powering jobs and transforming communities across Boke.

For families like Aissatou Diallo’s, the change has been transformative. “Before, my children studied by candlelight, and fell behind in school,” says Aissatou, a mother of four. “Now, with electricity, our home is bright at night, my oldest son excels in school, and I can conserve food fresh in the refrigerator—saving money and preventing waste”.

“The positive impact of electricity is evident”, notes Mamadouba Camara, Boke’s Urban Secretary-General. “Our city and the villages affected by mining activities were once held back by darkness. Today, reliable power has become a catalyst for change—attracting new businesses, reducing crime, and giving our young people real hope for decent jobs”.

The Linsan–Boke–Kaleta section and its dispatching center now deliver clean energy not only across Guinea but also to neighboring countries including Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia and Senegal. Over 6.6 million people across the four countries—essentially all those connected to the grid—stand to benefit from improved access to electricity with women representing half of the beneficiaries.

Powering progress through regional integration

The OMVG Interconnection is more than just a power line. It’s a symbol of regional unity and shared ambition. As a vital component of the West African Power Pool (WAPP), which spans 14 countries, the network is unlocking new possibilities for regional integration and cross-border electricity trade. With a total capacity of 800 MW, it enables day-ahead power markets and optimized energy flows, helping countries share resources and stabilize their grids.

Guinea’s transformation is a striking example of this progress. Since 2015, its electricity export capacity has surged from virtually zero to 440,000 KVA, exceeding expectations and contributing to the full interconnection of the WAPP network. With the network now in place and the OMVG Asset Management Agency ensuring smooth operations, Guinea is setting its sights on the future: modernizing its grid, expanding access, and integrating solar energy alongside its hydropower assets.

The OMVG project stands as a powerful example of how shared infrastructure can drive job creation, sustainable development, and economic resilience across West Africa.