Faced with major climate and development challenges, access to renewable energy has become vital for hundreds of millions of Sahelians. In the Sahel, a region endowed with enormous potential, UNDP has set the ambitious goal of providing more than 150 million people with access to clean and affordable energy by 2025.
In a mountainous landscape surrounded by dense vegetation and numerous watercourses, the isolated villages of western Guinea in the forest region seem to move backwards in time. However, on this land with abundant rainfall and natural resources, several communities have managed to bridge the energy gap thanks to renewable energy.
In Guinea, energy access stands at 18.1 percent, with 47.8 percent in urban areas and 2 percent in rural areas. As consumption is concentrated in urban areas, rural households have almost no access to energy.
Thanks to the construction of hydroelectric dams, hundreds of inhabitants of the villages of Firadou and Bolodou, separated by about 50 kilometres, now benefit from uninterrupted electricity supply.
"Now we have power outlets in our homes to charge our phones and use electronic devices. We have light to carry out our activities at night. We can even watch television for information or entertainment,"enthuses a Firadou resident. Here, the power plant installed in 2017 and expanded in 2021 produces 43 KVA of electricity and 60 KVA in Bolodou, according to the UNDP representative in Guinea.
These renewable energy projects were initiated by young people who were tired of being disconnected and wanted to provide energy for their communities. Prototypes were first made with available resources, and subsequently, UNDP supported these local initiatives and helped them expand.
"Rather than limiting ourselves to access to electricity, we asked ourselves what we could do with this energy. With the reservoir of the hydroelectric dams, fish farming sites have been set up to enhance the food security of the population. Small businesses selling refrigerated drinks or food have also been created." – Mamadou Ciré Camara, Environment and Sustainable Development Programme Officer, UNDP Guinea
"Renewable energy creates jobs for young people. I hope that authorities and donors will continue to support us because there is still much to be done. We have the ideas but not always the means,"says Fara Santos Kamano, an electrician at the Bolodou hydroelectric power plant.
In contrast, The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, has already achieved self-sufficiency in electricity and is a leader in addressing climate change. It is also an example for other Sahelian countries.
The country of about 2.6 million inhabitants is building a super photovoltaic park to produce 250 MW by the end of 2025,not only to meet domestic needs but also to supply energy to its West African neighbours. Solar-powered systems are also being installed in over a thousand public schools and health facilities.
Civil society is also taking part in the renewable energy transition and driving initiatives to accelerate community development. This change in mentality and usage requires awareness and training.
In the coastal village of Kartong in the southwest of the country, the "Fandema" project, which means "to help oneself" in the Mandingo dialect, enables hundreds of young women to train in renewable energy fields, such as photovoltaics.
According to Malang Sambou, president of the "Mbolo" association leading the project,"energy poverty has a significant impact on people''s lives in Africa, where they face challenges in accessing water and electricity."He believes that"involving women in the green transition is crucial because it can enhance their daily lives and that of their relatives, giving them more time for themselves."
Malang emphasizes that"renewable energy is the better choice for local benefits in Africa, compared to fossil fuels. If the region can reduce the damage and disasters caused by the climate crisis, the economy will improve. Making the best use of green energy and responsibly exploiting resources will also help establish an ecological conscience for future generations."
Malang''s former apprentices are now working in solar panel installation companies in the area, improving the daily lives of thousands of people in the country and contributing to the growth of the local economy.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. Guinea plans toreach 80 percent of its electricity production from renewablesources by 2030, the country''s Minister of Environment andSustainable Development Djami Diallo said in the national statementat the COP29 summit today, Trend reports.
"Despite its small contribution to global greenhouse gasemissions, Guinea in 2024 was not immune to the negative impacts ofclimate change. The floods and droughts that affected the countrythis year highlight the urgency of taking ambitious, coordinated,and inclusive actions to curb temperature rise and increaseresilience to climate threats," she explained.
According to her, Guinea has set several strategic goals for2030, including achieving 80 percent of electricity production fromhydro and solar sources, reducing per capita firewood consumptionby 50 percent, curbing deforestation and land degradation, andprotecting 30 percent of land and marine areas.
"Moreover, Guinea plans to create a local voluntary carboncredit market in the mining sector, which will attract privateinvestments for climate change mitigation, water resourceconservation, and the promotion of the blue economy," the ministerpointed out.
She also emphasized that the country recently announced twomajor initiatives that will significantly accelerate theachievement of climate goals and strengthen the global fight forsustainable climate. Firstly, the country is preparing to play akey role in decarbonizing the global iron ore industry through theimplementation of the Simandou megaproject, which will require lessenergy to process iron ore and significantly reduce emissions inthe mining sector.
"Secondly, Guinea will lead an international coalition torestore the Fouta Djallon massif, a crucial watershed in WestAfrica that serves as the source of key regional rivers. Theecosystem urgently requires measures to ensure the resilience oflocal communities and preserve biodiversity, and Guinea hasinitiated the process of nominating this site for UNESCO WorldHeritage status," Diallo highlighted.
To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties tothe UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which willrun until November 22, opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium onNovember 11. It is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan todate, and the first time in the region that it is being held inAzerbaijan.
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