Guinea Hydrology Lines

The climate of the Republic of Guinea can be generally classified as tropical. It is characterized by an overall abundance of precipitation which in turn helps to sustain the many rivers and lakes in the country. Many rivers originate in the mountainous central highlands of Guinea called the Fouta Djallon. Over the past five decades, several large hydroelectric projects have been completed in the country. The most recent and largest of these is the Garafiri Dam located on the Konkouré River. Completed in 1999, the Garafiri Dam provides over four times as much electricity as any other dam in the country, including the Grand Chutes, Banieya and Kale Dams. Recently, foreign investment from Chinese companies has initiated both the renovation of existing hydroelectric dams as well as the construction of new projects like the USD 256 million Kaleta Dam with an expected capacity of 240 megawatts. In some mining towns like Kiniero and Sangaredi, diesel generators provide power to the town and are owned and operated by the respective mining company. However, even with the promise of new dams and power plants, much of Guinea continues to face challenges in terms of the supply of electricity and clean water. Many urban centers like Conakry and Boke experience periodic power outages, which has resulted in demonstrations and protests in recent years.