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afrol News, 15 October - The Guinean government's rural electrification project has received financing to continue its work in mapping current needs. Also, a so-called electrification Master Plan of Guinea is to be produced. The 'Master Plan' aims to "provide the country with a reliable data and a coherent operating framework for all the operators in the electric power sector on one hand, and identify optimal solutions to meet the rising demand for access by the populations to electric power services on the other hand," according to a statement. The 'rural electrification project study' on the other hand "will mainly focus on the updating and/or conduct of the supplementary studies on the 22 priority areas included in the government's programme." According to the African Development Bank (ADB) - which today granted a credit to the project - these studies "will contribute in a sustainable manner to poverty reduction in Guinea by providing electricity to rural populations in order to improve their living standards." Poverty reduction is an important prerequisite for obtaining ADB funds. The future electrification projects further were to include job opportunities, "in particular for youths and women who are highly active and closely involved in food crops as well as the marketing of agricultural and fisheries products." Also gender-related development is promoted by the Bank. Finally, the studies were to "contribute to the settlement of the work force in rural areas and thereby reduce rural exodus," according to ADB's communiqué. A grant of approximately Franc CFA 1.19 billion to finance these studies was today signed at the Abidjan headquarters of ADF. Mr Fodé Cissé, Ambassador of the Guinea in Côte d’Ivoire, signed on behalf of his country. The ADF Board of Directors had approved the project already on 11 September this year. Earlier this year, a Franc CFA 15 billion rural water supply project in Guinea was financed by the African Development Fund (ADF). That project includes over 1000 water points, some powered by solar energy. Sources: Based on ADF and afrol archives
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