Abu Dhabi Government grants US$18 million to strengthen power supply in Guinea

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, has participated at the official cornerstone-laying ceremony of Guinea’s National Dispatch Centre in the presence of Alpha Conde, President of Guinea, and Mamady Youla, Prime Minister of Guinea.

ADFD allocated US$18 million for the construction and operation of the centre from the US$90 million Abu Dhabi Government grant earmarked for development projects across Guinea in 2013. The Fund’s contribution will cover 80 percent of the project’s total cost. The grant will also boost socio-economic development across the country and will help strengthen electricity supply for more than 10 million Guineans.

Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director of Finance at ADFD, led the delegation that represented the Fund at the ceremony. Also present at the event were Abdullah Sulaiman Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to Guinea, and several high-ranking Guinean officials.

The National Dispatch Centre will bolster energy control efforts, help stabilise the Guinean national electrical grid, and bring power to the nation. The project aligns with the West African Power Pool programme that aims to provide electricity supply and facilitate cross-border power exchange.

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD, said, "ADFD is proud to support the Guinean government with this new strategic project. This latest endeavour is part of the Fund’s tailored energy portfolio for the West African region. Previously, ADFD contributed more than US$20 million towards the construction of two power stations, Tombo I and Tombo II, in the Guinean capital, Conakry. Both stations are now complete and produce about 60 megawatts of energy in total."

"ADFD’s support for the National Dispatch Centre re-affirms the Fund’s commitment to financing projects that elevate living standards, promote sustainable socio-economic growth and equip Guinea with a reliable national grid capable of supplying, transmitting and exchanging electricity across the region," he added.

The Abu Dhabi government grant provides funding for several components of the centre including a supervisory control and data acquisition network, the construction of the main building, control rooms, offices furnished with the necessary equipment, training for operation and maintenance personnel, as well as sufficient hardware to communicate with 24 power stations and substations.

Since 1977, ADFD has enjoyed close bi-lateral ties with the Guinean government and has underpinned sustainable development projects across key sectors, particularly energy, food security, industry, and agriculture.