From Energy Crisis to Added Capacity: Karpowership's Return to Conakry

The Kaloum Fire and the Energy Crisis

In the early hours of December 18, 2023, a fire broke out at the main fuel depot of the Société Guinéenne de Pétrole in Kaloum. The immediate disruption was significant. For the day, public and private sector workers across Greater Conakry were asked to stay home, schools were closed and service stations shut except for emergency needs.

The impact soon extended to the power sector. Disruption to fuel supplies constrained thermal generation, while low water levels at Guinea's hydroelectric reservoirs added further pressure as the dry season progressed.

By April 2024, power rationing had become a significant challenge for households and businesses. Guineenews reported consumers were at one point receiving as little as six hours of electricity within a 48-hour period. At the same time, reduced water availability was limiting hydroelectric generation. In June, Energy Minister Aboubacar Camara reported that around 220 MW was being produced on the interconnected grid, compared with a combined installed capacity of 690 MW at the Souapiti and Kaleta hydropower plants.

The impact was also being felt by small businesses. In Kipé, Guineenews reported that Christian, who ran a small computer services business near a private university, was struggling to make even 100,000 Guinean francs a day. Lost working hours made it increasingly difficult to cover rent, pay employees and support his household.

A New 150 MW Agreement

Against this backdrop, Guinea turned to additional generation capacity. Karpowership, which had previously operated in the country between 2019 and 2023, signed a new agreement with Electricité de Guinée and the Republic of Guinea in 2024 to provide 150 MW of electricity.

Karadeniz Powership Ibrahim Bey arrived in Conakry in August 2024 and operations began later that month. The Powership provided an additional source of dispatchable generation that could complement Guinea's hydroelectric resources when additional capacity was needed.

Electricity generated onboard can be delivered directly to the national grid at 110 kV, integrating the Powership's output into Guinea's interconnected power system.

The fleet configuration has since evolved. Today, Karadeniz Powership Kaya Bey and Karadeniz Powership Yasin Bey operate under the 150 MW agreement.

Part of a Broader Power System

Karpowership is one component of a wider electricity system that includes Guinea's substantial hydroelectric capacity, thermal generation and regional interconnections. Each has a different role to play in balancing supply and demand and managing seasonal variations in generation.

The experience of 2024 demonstrated how quickly conditions can change when several parts of an energy system come under pressure at the same time. For Conakry, strengthening resilience therefore depends not on a single source of electricity, but on having sufficient and complementary generation capacity available when it is needed.

Within that mix, Karpowership's 150 MW contracted capacity provides Guinea with an additional source of flexible generation to support the reliability of electricity supply in the capital and the wider interconnected system.