SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Guinea-Bissau connects to the sub-regional power grid to strengthen its supply

Guinea-Bissau has completed its connection to the sub-regional power grid linking Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea, thereby improving the stability of its capital's electricity supply.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

Guinea-Bissau is now integrated into the sub-regional electricity network, shared with Senegal, The Gambia and Guinea, as part of an initiative led by the Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie (OMVG). This project aims to provide a more reliable energy supply for Bissau, where power outages are frequent.

Support provided by the Kaléta hydroelectric power plant

The interconnection mainly relies on the Kaléta hydroelectric power plant, built in Guinea and inaugurated in 2015. With an installed capacity of 240 megawatts (MW), its output drops to 30 MW during the dry season according to experts. Senegal and The Gambia are already connected to this infrastructure. Guinea-Bissau will now be able to receive up to 80 MW to supply its capital and surrounding areas.

During the inauguration ceremony, Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embalo hailed this achievement, alongside his Gambian counterpart Adama Barrow. Senegal and Guinea were represented by their Ministers of Water Resources.

Immediate impact for Bissau and its suburbs

Before the interconnection, Bissau’s energy needs, estimated at 30 MW, were half supplied by a local thermal power plant. The other half came from a Turkish ship that ceased operations in January, in anticipation of the Kaléta connection coming online.

The company Eau et Électricité de Guinée Bissau (EAGB) faced significant financial difficulties, limiting its ability to provide continuous electricity. In the rest of the country, access to the electrical grid remains extremely limited, with Guinea-Bissau remaining one of the least developed countries according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Persistent structural challenges

Chronic political instability and poverty have hindered infrastructure development in Guinea-Bissau. The country is also used as a transit point for drug trafficking between Latin America and Europe, according to United Nations assessments.

The commissioning of this regional interconnection is part of a collective effort to strengthen the energy security of OMVG member states and to optimise the use of available hydroelectric resources.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
ShaMaran signs agreement to restart oil exports via Iraq-Türkiye pipeline
Hy2gen secures zoning approval for renewable ammonia plant in Norway
Founder Group launches $2.76bn solar and storage project in Sarawak
PENGASSAN halts gas supply to Dangote refinery after mass layoffs
TNC partners with Nucor to strengthen US nuclear supply chain by 2050
Ukrainian operator plans 20% increase in transmission tariffs for 2026
Ukrenergo plans to raise electricity transmission tariffs by 20% in 2026 to cover technical costs and obligations tied to international loans.
ASEAN reignites regional energy integration with cross-border electricity grid
The ASEAN Power Grid enters a strategic phase with renewed support from regional and international institutions to structure electricity trade among member states and secure the necessary investments.
France, Spain and Portugal seek to speed up electricity interconnectors
The three countries will hold a meeting in October to unlock interconnector projects, following a major blackout that exposed the fragility of the Iberian Peninsula’s electricity integration.
Half of Europe’s power grid exposed to blackout risks
Up to 55% of Europe’s electricity system remains vulnerable due to weak interconnection capacity, increasing the risk of widespread outages in several countries, according to a new report.
EU allocates EUR76.3mn to support three cross-border energy projects
The European Commission allocates EUR76.3mn ($80.63mn) to three projects aiming to strengthen energy interconnections between Member States, focusing on onshore and offshore wind power and decarbonised district heating.
Germany launches two new phases of the €10bn SuedLink project
The SuedLink underground cable project, estimated at €10bn ($10.66bn), enters an active phase with the launch of two additional sections in Hesse and Lower Saxony.
Vinci secures €885mn contract for Rail Baltica railway electrification
French group Vinci, through its subsidiary Cobra IS, will electrify 870 kilometres of rail tracks across the Baltic States as part of the Rail Baltica project, in a deal worth €885mn ($944mn).
Washington approves $130mn project to connect Moldova’s grid to Europe
The United States is funding a new high-voltage line to integrate Moldova into the European electricity market, following the cutoff of supplies from the separatist Transnistria region.
Nexans installs record-breaking 2,150-metre deep power cable in Italy
French group Nexans has begun installing a high-voltage submarine cable between Sardinia and Sicily, reaching an unprecedented depth of 2,150 metres as part of a project led by Italian grid operator Terna.
NKT selected as preferred bidder for power cable project between Scotland and England
Danish manufacturer NKT has been chosen to supply a 525 kV high-voltage cable system for the Eastern Green Link 3 project connecting Scotland and England’s power grids.
BII commits $7.5mn to support power interconnection in Nigeria
British International Investment partners with Odyssey Energy Solutions to finance the expansion of interconnected mini-grids in Nigeria, under the World Bank-backed DARES programme.
Brazil invests to connect Roraima to its national power grid
Roraima, the last state not connected to Brazil’s national grid, has been linked through a publicly funded project launched over 14 years ago.
European Union targets eight bottlenecks to secure its power grid
The European Commission launches a regulatory plan addressing eight major power grid blockages to reduce price disparities and strengthen energy security across the Union.
Jordan ready to export electricity to Syria pending grid connections
Amman confirms its grid readiness to supply Syria during off-peak hours, pending completion of Syrian infrastructure.
Spanish operators warn of saturation in national power grid
Spanish electricity companies call for urgent reinforcement of investments after finding more than 80% of the transmission grid is saturated.
EDF secures €500mn to upgrade Enedis’ power interconnections
EDF finalised a second €500mn ($535mn) tranche with the European Investment Bank to support interconnections and strengthen Enedis' electricity distribution network in 2025.
NatPower Marine and Wah Kwong launch electric port network across 30 Asian ports
NatPower Marine and Wah Kwong create a joint venture to deploy a maritime electric charging network in over 30 Asian ports by 2030, without requiring initial public investment.
Hitachi injects $1bn into transformer manufacturing to strengthen US grid interconnection
Hitachi Energy commits $457mn to build a transformer factory in Virginia, part of a $1bn plan to support electrical interconnection in the US amid rising demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Bernard Gustin takes chairmanship of expanded 50Hertz supervisory board
Elia Group Chief Executive Officer Bernard Gustin has been appointed chairman of the new twelve-member supervisory board of 50Hertz, restructured under German co-determination law.
US grid interconnection agreements hit 75 GW in 2024
US grid interconnection volumes rose 33% in 2024, driven by federal reform that streamlined procedures and enabled a record 75 GW of validated capacity.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

[wc_register_modal]