Guinea’s journey from crippling energy shortages to becoming a regional electricity exporter has been symbolically enshrined on its 20,000-franc banknote. The image of the Kaleta Hydropower Station, now central to the country’s power supply, captures more than just infrastructure, it tells the story of a nation reshaping its energy future through hydropower and international cooperation.
For decades, Guinea’s vast rivers earned it the title of the “Water Tower of West Africa.” Yet paradoxically, over 70 percent of its electricity was generated from costly and polluting fuel oil. The fragile grid imposed daily blackouts, stifled industrial growth, and left communities dependent on the noisy hum of diesel generators after sunset.
This reality began to change in August 2015 when the Kaleta Hydropower Station was commissioned on the Konkouré River. Built by the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE), the 240-megawatt facility added 1.125 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, meeting nearly half of the country’s power deficit at the time. A modern transmission network was simultaneously constructed, extending electricity access beyond Conakry to 11 prefectures, many of which received reliable power for the first time.
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In 2021, the momentum was reinforced by the commissioning of the larger Souapiti Hydropower Station, also developed by CWE upstream. Together, Kaleta and Souapiti now generate 690 megawatts, supplying over 80 percent of Guinea’s electricity demand. Their impact has been profound: the nation’s reliance on fuel oil has been drastically reduced, and Guinea has transitioned from a power-deficient country into a net exporter of renewable energy. Neighboring countries such as Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone are now being supplied with Guinean electricity.
Local voices testify to this transformation. “Before Kaleta was built, power outages were common in our community. We experienced them almost daily, sometimes lasting for hours,” recalled Alhassane Bangoura, a translator who worked on the project and later joined the operations team. Today, he and other Guinean technicians maintain the facility independently, thanks to extensive training provided by Chinese engineers.
At the height of construction, more than 1,500 local jobs were created. Beyond employment, a deliberate skills-transfer program was established. Nearly 100 Guinean trainees were sent either to China or to local universities for specialized study. Those who first trained at Kaleta went on to mentor new recruits at Souapiti, ensuring continuity and building local technical capacity. This emphasis on knowledge sharing was described by CWE’s market development director, Chen Qiuhan, as essential for long-term sustainability: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
The projects have had visible social ripple effects. Rural communities have been electrified for the first time, small enterprises now operate with greater efficiency, and children study under steady lighting rather than candle flames. Equipment donations and community engagement programs have reached thousands of residents, while cultural exchanges between Chinese engineers and Guinean locals deepened trust during construction.
Hydropower’s growing role in Guinea also aligns with broader continental trends. Africa is estimated to hold 12 percent of the world’s hydropower potential, however, less than 10 percent of that capacity has been harnessed. In Guinea, the Konkouré River alone is expected to host multiple future projects that could cement the country as an energy hub in West Africa.
Environmentalists have, however, raised important questions. While hydropower is renewable, it is not without ecological costs. Reservoirs alter river ecosystems, affect fish populations, and can displace communities. In Guinea’s case, concerns around resettlement and biodiversity loss accompanied both Kaleta and Souapiti, reminding stakeholders that sustainability must balance energy access with environmental stewardship.
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Nevertheless, the projects have been hailed as milestones in Africa-China cooperation in infrastructure and green energy. For Guinea, the symbolism of the Kaleta station appearing on national currency is not accidental. It signals the pride of a nation once shackled by power shortages, now positioning itself as a driver of energy integration in West Africa.
As night falls over the Konkouré valley, the lights from Kaleta glitter across the landscape, illuminating homes, schools, and factories. The glow also extends beyond Guinea’s borders, powering communities in neighboring countries. For many, those lights stand as proof that sustainable energy development, when paired with knowledge transfer and regional cooperation, has the potential to reshape economies and societies alike.
