Rural Areas of Guinea Bissau are set to receive electricity through off-grid solar technologies through a project called the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP). ROGEAP will be implemented by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and funded by the World Bank.
Funded by the World Bank, the project is part of the ROGEAP program to improve access to sustainable electricity services.
According to Carlos Alberto Handem, Guinean Ministry of Energy General Director, the main objective is to increase electricity access for households, commercial businesses, public institutions and productive uses through autonomous photovoltaic solar systems in West Africa and four countries in the Sahel. Solar kits will be installed in homes, health centers, and schools to ensure access to energy.
According to World Bank data, about 65% of Guinea-Bissau’s population currently lacks access to electricity.
“This data is more than statistics; it is a cry for justice and development. Each home without light represents a child who cannot study at night, a hospital that cannot handle emergencies, and a business that cannot grow,” said Handem.