Guinea - Second Phase of the Electricity Access Scale Up Project : Additional Financing

Overview & Synopsis

The development objective of the Guinea Electricity Access Scale Up Project-Phase 2 for Guinea is to increase grid and non-grid access to electricity services in selected areas and to improve the operational performance of the power utility. The proposed additional financing responds to a financing gap identified at appraisal and is needed to ensure timely award and execution of already appraised grid expansion investments in Kindia and Labé without reducing scope or delaying implementation; it does not change the project’s objectives, design, components, results framework, or environmental and social arrangements. The operation will continue to support reinforcement and expansion of distribution networks and last-mile connections in targeted urban and peri-urban areas, off-grid electrification through privately operated hybrid solar-diesel mini-grids in underserved rural localities, and reforms to strengthen sector financial sustainability and governance, including performance-based conditions for adoption and initial operationalization of a sector recovery plan, a performance contract between the Government and Electricite de Guinee (EDG), submission of audited financial statements and corrective actions, and deployment of prepaid meters in non-strategic public institutions; it also provides implementation support, technical assistance, and capacity building for the Ministry of Energy and the Guinea Rural Electrification Agency (AGER). The project intends to provide new access to electricity to approximately 960,000 people, improve electricity services for about 570,000 people, enable private participation in mini-grids, reduce greenhouse gas emissions through efficiency and renewable energy, and enhance climate resilience of networks through design measures while improving EDG’s billing, collection, metering, and commercial systems to strengthen operational efficiency and cost recovery.