The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund has approved additional financing of $25.79 million for Guinea to advance the 225 kV Guinea-Mali electricity interconnection project. The funding, agreed in Abidjan on 10 December 2025, comes from the African Development Bank Group’s concessional window and comprises a loan of approximately $22 million and a grant of $3.79 million.
This project is expected to contribute significantly to the socioeconomic development of both Guinea and Mali by improving access to high-quality, low-cost energy for local populations. The additional financing will support the ongoing implementation of the initiative, which was initially funded with around $41 million from the African Development Fund in December 2017, bringing the total project cost in Guinea from $346 million to $372 million. The project is co-financed by the European Union, the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, with the implementation period scheduled from January 2026 to December 2028.
The new funds will facilitate the installation of 37,500 additional electricity connections and include the development of medium-voltage feeders at HV/LV substations to enhance rural electrification. The financing will also provide institutional support for key national bodies such as Électricité de Guinée (EDG) and the Electricity and Water Regulatory Authority (AREE), while covering the operational costs of the Management Unit and consulting engineer. This intervention aims to strengthen governance and expand electricity access, addressing persistent sectoral challenges. In 2024, national electricity access in Guinea stood at 52 percent, with a sharp disparity between urban areas at 89 percent and rural areas at 21 percent.
The project will directly improve living conditions for households and enhance essential socio-economic infrastructure, including schools, health centres, artisanal workshops, and women’s groups. Productive users will gain reliable electricity to expand their activities, supporting employment, poverty reduction, and social cohesion.
