Guinea is the source of several major West African rivers (including the Gambia and Niger Rivers) and has a hydroelectric potential (technically feasible) estimated at 19,400 Gigawatthours per year (Gwh/yr). Only about 1% of Guinea's technically feasible hydroelectric potential has so far been developed. The 75-MW Garafiri hydroelectric facility, on the Konkoure River, was commissioned in 1999; and an 80-MW project is planned 60 miles (100 km) downstream at Kaleta.
Guinea intends to use its hydroelectric potentials to replace the supply of electricity by thermal power stations which is expensive. The country still faces some problems in this area. In the capital Malabo, power supply is assured 60% by one thermal power station and 40% by private generating sets. Unfortunately the supply of these private generating sets is small. To overcome these differences, the hydroelectric power station at Musala near Luba was built where its network covers an area of 1460km. In the same light, a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 3.6 megavolts was built on the Rio Riaba. On the mainland, the thermal power station of Bata on Rio Muni has been equipped with two sets wit ha unit capacity of 700kw.
In October 2000, the 14 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Guinea is a member, signed an agreement to launch a project to boost power supply in the region of West Africa. The West African Power Pool (WAPP) agreement reaffirmed the decision to develop energy production facilities and interconnect their respective electricity grids. According to the agreement, the WAPP will be accomplished in two phases but is planned to be fully implemented by 2005. Guinea, along with countries such as Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, will actively be involved in the second phase of the WAPP agreement. Under the agreement, WAPP is expected to harmonize the regulatory framework that governs the electricity sector in each member country.
