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Energy in GuineaThree primary energy sources make up the energy mix in Guinea: fossil biomass, oil and hydropower. Biomass (firewood and charcoal) makes the largest contribution in primary energy consumption.[1] It is locally produced, while Guinea imports all the petroleum products it needs.[1] The potential for hydroelectric power generation is high, but largely untapped. Electricity is not available to a high percentage of Guineans, especially in rural areas, and service is intermittent, even in the capital city of Conakry. Consumption and accessThe estimated 2012 national consumption was 903 million kWh.[2] Consumption per individual was less than the equivalent of half a ton of petroleum, broken down into 80% from biomass, 18% from hydrocarbons and 2% from electricity.[3] At the national level, 34% of the population have access to electricity. In rural areas where 8.1 million people reside, 7% have access to electricity.[4] BiomassIn 1995, firewood was by far the greatest source of energy, accounting for 85%.[5] In 2008, biomass accounted for 89%.[1] According to a 2012 International Monetary Fund paper, over 74% of households use firewood for cooking.[3] 23% use charcoal.[3] Electricity The Electricité Nationale de Guinée (National Electricity Company of Guinea) is responsible for all production and distribution of electricity in the country.[6] However, service is poor; even households in Conakry are served less than 12 hours a day.[3] According to The World Factbook, as of 2013, only 53% of urban areas and 11% of rural areas had access to electricity, leaving 8.7 million people without it.[2] There is also a sharp east-west divide: west of the Ouré-Kaba-Tougué axis, nearly 30% had electricity, but that figure dropped to barely over 5% to the east.[3] In 2013, electricity production was an estimated 971 million kWh.[2] In 2012, an estimated 67.8% of the electricity was obtained from fossil fuel and the remainder from hydroelectric plants.[2] The country has considerable hydropower potential - about 6000 megawatts (MW) or 19,300 GWh annually - but taps only a small percentage of it.[1][5][3] The country is currently engaged in interconnection projects such as the sub-regional Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (Sénégal River Basin Development Organization),[7] Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Gambie (Gambia River Basin Development Organization)[7] and West African Power Pool.[8] OilThe country has no known reserves.[2] It imported an estimated 9,089 bbl/day in 2012.[2] Renewable energyGuinea is believed to have substantial potential for renewable energy. Potential resources for hydroelectricity is estimated at 4,740 MW.[9] Government policy seeks to improve energy efficiency, increase the share of renewables, and cut local electricity tariffs.[9] The country plans to install off-grid solar systems in rural areas to improve access to electricity.[4] The mini-grids will have capacities between 10 kilowatts to 10 MW.[10] See alsoReferences
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