Aerial photo taken on April 24, 2025 shows a view of the Kaleta Hydropower Station in Dubreka, Guinea.
Previously, Guinea relied on costly and polluting fuel oil for over 70% of its power, with frequent outages hindering economic growth. Alhassane Bangoura, a local translator who worked on the project, recalled: “Before Kaleta Hydropower Station was built, power outages were common in our community. We experienced them almost daily, sometimes lasting for hours.” The station’s annual output of 1.125 billion kilowatt-hours has addressed nearly half of Guinea’s power gap, significantly increasing the share of renewable energy.
The infrastructure includes a transmission network that supplies electricity from the capital to 11 prefectures, reaching remote areas for the first time. Djenabou Diallo, financial manager of the Kaleta Power Plant Management Company, stated: “The transmission network built alongside the station delivers power from the capital to 11 prefectures. Remote areas accessed stable electricity for the first time.” The 2021 commissioning of the Souapiti Hydropower Station, also built by CWE upstream, boosted the combined capacity of the two plants to 690 megawatts, now accounting for over 80% of Guinea’s electricity.
This reliable clean energy has enabled Guinea to become a net exporter, supplying power to six neighboring countries, including Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone. Diallo told Xinhua: “We used to struggle to meet domestic demand. Now, we light up nights in neighboring countries.”
The project has fostered technical collaboration, with CWE training local staff in skills like welding and equipment maintenance. Bangoura, now part of the operations team, said: “From construction to operation, we received systematic training in welding, electrical work, and equipment maintenance. The ‘knowledge transfer’ from Chinese engineers gave us valuable skills.” At its peak, Kaleta created over 1,500 local jobs, and since 2016, nearly 100 Guineans have studied in China or local universities through a CWE-government partnership.
Chen Qiuhan, market development director at CWE Guinea, emphasized sustainable cooperation, stating: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Bangoura added: “Our Chinese friends taught us not just technology, but the philosophy of sustainable development.” Community initiatives, including equipment donations and open days, have benefited around 20,000 residents, fostering strong local ties.
CWE remains committed to supporting Guinea’s energy and mining sectors, as Chen noted: “CWE is committed to further cooperation with the Guinean government. By steadily developing the power sector, we aim to better support Guinea’s mining development vision.” The Kaleta station’s impact highlights the value of collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable energy and economic development.
