Guinea Electricity Access Scale Up Project

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The objective of the Electricity Access Scale Up Project is to increase access to electricity in selected areas of Guinea. There are three components to the project, the first component being reinforcement and expansion of grid access in selected regions and reduction of illegal consumption. This component will focus on improving and expanding electricity access in urban and relatively high-density areas with demonstrated capacity to pay. This component also includes financing for thesupply and installation of last mile connection equipment, including smart meters for large consumers, prepaid meters, and ready boards for low voltage customers. This component includes three subcomponents: Regularization of illegal connections in Conakry, Rehabilitation and extension of distribution networks of Maneah, Dubreka, and Coyah in Greater Conakry, and Rehabilitation, densification, and extension of distribution networks in secondary cities of Forecariah and Kindia. The second component is the electrification of remote localities with privately operated hybrid systems (solar PV with storage and diesel) mini grids. This component aims at setting up a pilot of privately-operated mini grid subprojects in about 10 locations which are not expected to benefit from the national grid connection in the next 10 years under current least-cost electrification plan. This component will build and improve on the previous World Bank financed PERD. Finally, the third component is the owner’s engineer, access program coordination, technical assistance, capacity building, and project implementation support. This component includes five subcomponents: owner’s engineer, establishment of the National Access Program Coordination Unit (SWAp Secretariat) to coordinate and optimize the support of donors for access through grid extension and mini grids, project implementation support, studies and technical assistance, and capacity building and social inclusiveness of access and regularization of illegal connections.