There is no refinery in the country nor domestic production of oil. A National Import Committee is responsible for launching international bids to import fuel in the country. The HFO fuel for the centrals is managed separately from the other common fuel such as petrol, diesel and JET A1. The Société Guinéene de Pétrole (SGP) is the only entity authorized to import fuel and it is the main authority in this field. The SGP has the following nominal storage capacity; 73,000 m³ for diesel, 33,000 m³ for petrol and 3,700 m³ for JET A1. Two tankers arrive at Conakry port on a monthly basis to be offloaded and stocked at SGP facilities. After receiving the fuel in SGP tanks, the private distributors (17 different distributors including Total and Vivo Energy) can withdraw the quantities allocated to each one of them by submitting an order form. The companies can transport the fuel either using their own fleet or via their sub-contractors. It is strictly prohibited to import fuel without the authorization from the SGP or to use any other entry point except of Conakry Port. It is possible to find service stations in the main cities and towns and along the national roads. There are more than 150 Total  stations and around 60 Vivo Energy (Shell), which have storing capacity of 40,353 m³. Total Ltd offers various services including payment with their NIMBA card and they also have a partnership with Orange to pay by Orange Money.  

For information on Guinea Conakry Fuel contact details, please see the following links: 

4.1 Guinea Government Contact List

4.7 Guinea Fuel Provider Contact List

Information may also be found at: http://www.mytravelcost.com/petrol-prices/  which is updated monthly.

Fuel Pricing

The importation of the fuel is done by transparent bidding which is collectively managed by a tripartite committee composed of representatives of the administration, distribution companies and the Guinean Petroleum Corporation. The fuel prices are determined on a monthly basis according to the variations of the international prices. According to The SGP, the fuel in Guinea is subsidized.

Seasonal Variations 

Some delays in offloading a tanker during the rainy season might occur but does not disturb the availability of fuel in the country. Gas stations close their operations in the evening at around 22h00 and reopen at 06h00 in the morning. Inside the country, there are individuals selling fuel at higher prices as service stations are scarce.  

Fuel Transportation

Fuel transportation is either ensured by the distributors or by their sub-contractors. Some service stations in the country might face shortage in supplies due to the bad roads and the delays that might occur during the rainy season. During the Ebola crisis, there was an agreement between the Logistics Cluster and Total to have an emergency stock of 5,000 litres in different locations. In addition to that TOTAL Guinée provided JET A1 at Kissidougou airfield.

 Standards, Quality and Testing

There are national standards regulating the quality in the country. Currently, there are two companies authorized to test the fuel; Société Générale de Guinée (SGS) tests petrol and diesel while Veritas Guinée tests JET A1.  

The commercial transport in Guinea can be divided to 4 categories. At the top, there are the companies that transport primarily for the account of mining companies and oil distribution companies, which require top quality service and reliability. Then come the SME transporters who either have a direct contract with a freight forwarding company or are sub-contracted by larger firms in the first category. These companies are managed in a good manner and offer above average quality of service. These SMEs are still confronted with the practices of third and fourth category of carriers in the market which disrupt the price level and the overloading. The third category is that of carriers with low management capacity, have recourse to the transporters associations or unions that monopolize the market share and offer cargo to their members. This is especially the case at the Port of Conakry and in different public markets. The rates charged are not negotiable; a commission is retained and the share collected by the carrier cover barely for the transportation costs. This encourages the practice of overloading since there aren’t any weighing bridge in the country. At the bottom of the scale are those called commonly "the banabanas" or marginal carriers that do not accept the affiliation and the system set up by the trade union and l’Union des Transporteurs Routiers de Guinée  (UNTRG) and prefer to use less expensive brokers. These carriers are poorly paid, use equipment in very poor condition and offer poor service. The last two categories compose more than 60% of the total trucking capacity in the country.

l’Union des Transporteurs Routiers de Guinée or (UNTRG) is the main transport union in the country.

The number of trucks in the country is sufficient for the local market. It is important to note that some transporters might not accept to operate on certain routes during the rainy season. 

For information on transporters and their fleet capacity please see the following link: 4.8 Guinea Transporter Contact List

Guinea's Labor Code permits all workers (except military and paramilitary) to create and participate in labor organizations. The General Workers Union of Guinea (UGTG) and the Free Union of Teachers and Researchers of Guinea (SLECG) have emerged since the code ended the previously existing trade union monopoly system. However, the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG) remains the largest labor organization. Collective bargaining is protected by law. Salaried workers, including public sector civilian employees, have the right to strike, provided that they have given 10 days' notice of an intent to strike and that they are not engaged in an essential service. About 5% of the workforce is unionized.

The minimum working age is 16, and is enforced for large firms working in the formal economy. However, most children work, either in the informal economy or in agriculture. The workweek is technically 48 hours, but most people work longer hours. The labor code has provisions for a minimum wage but the government has yet to establish one, and most workers do not earn a living wage. 

The ARPT (Authorité de Régulation des Postes et Télécommunications) is a legal entity of public law, independent, endowed with financial and managerial autonomy, governed by the special status defined by the L018 law in September 2005 on telecommunications and placed under the supervision of the Minister in charge of telecommunication. ARPT ensures compliance with the provisions of the law on the general regulation of telecommunications and its implementing regulations. It shall take the necessary measures to ensure the service continuity and protect the users. There are four major mobile phone providers in the country offering competitive service in quality and price. The sim cards are obtained under presentation of an identity card and the number is registered accordingly. 

Telecommunications Regulation

The importation and licensing of humanitarian communication equipment: VSAT, HF, VHF, Thurayas, etc… is regulated in accordance with the MOU signed between the humanitarian agency and the government. For more information on the telecommunication regulations please visit the ARPT website: ARPT Official Website

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

There is a common radio room managed by UNDSS. All radio bases (HF/VHF) are located at UNDSS (Maison Commune) where UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS are located. The repeaters are located at Kakourima mountain located at 40 km from Conakry Town Centre. This is an inter-agency radio room; all UN agencies use the same frequencies. For the rest of connectivity and telecoms systems such as VSAT, each agency depends on its own.

It is possible to procure on the local market depending on the commodity itself. The local market is able to meet demand and to scale up if required. During the Ebola Response there was a huge demand for plastic tools such as plastic buckets and similar equipment used as preventive measures for hand washing. The local manufacturer faced some challenges at the start but was able to accommodate the multiple demands from different UN agencies and NGOs. 

Although Guinea has mining resources, it is estimated that 60% of the Guinean population is engaged in agricultural production. The growing of corn, cassava, peanuts, rice, fonio, cola, citrus, tropical fruits and coffee assure 24% of GDP despite a lower growth rate in 2001 (0,1%). The arable land is estimated at 7.5 million ha with a cultivated area of 3,000,000 ha.

Key exports and imports are:

• Exports: 
  • $1.31 billion (2013 est.); $1.348 billion (2012 est.)
  • Commodities: bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
  • Partners: India 10.6%, Spain 9.6%, Chile 9.4%, US 7.1%, Ireland 6.3%, Germany 6.3%, Ukraine 5.7%, France 5% (2012)
• Imports: 
  • $2.384 billion (2013 est.); $2.606 billion (2012 est.)
  • Commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
  • Partners: China 14.2%, Netherlands 7.6% (2012)

For contact information for food and additional suppliers, please see the following link: 4.11 Guinea Producers, Wholesalers, Retailers List

The number of qualified suppliers is limited in the country therefore it is important to assess the market and the supply to avoid any gaps in programme support needs.

For information on Guinea Additional Service Providers contact details, please see the following link: 4.9 Guinea Additional Service Provision Contact List

Accommodation

Accommodation/housing is available in country. In Conakry, the rent can be expensive especially if the place meets the minimum security requirements. Rents usually starts from US $900 / month for foreigners. It is important to note that finding good accommodations or housing inside the country might be difficult and renters often should expect to do some rehabilitation before moving in. The majority of owners demand to be paid a year in advance or at least 6 months plus the deposit of a caution of two months rent.

Financial Service Providers

There is a limited number of banks in Guinea; however, it is possible to find the following services: commercial and investment banking services, foreign exchange services, insurance and bank cards. Money transfer is possible either by the main international companies like Western Union or MoneyGram or by local companies which are in the capital. 

ECOBANK

Ecobank Guinea (EGN) is supervised and regulated by the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea (BCRG). EGN has 18 branches and 207 employees. The return on equity (ROE) was 20.6% in 2012 and has remained steady at around 30 per cent over the past two years. The return on assets (ROA) turns around 2 per cent over the last three years. EGN has experienced strong revenue growth over the past three years and occupies the second place in the Guinean market. Currently, it focuses more on the bank of individuals investing in cards and ATMs.

Société Générale de Banques en Guinée (SGBG)

 SGBG is a subsidiary of Societe Generale Group, present in Guinea since 1985 and is a bank of reference for the development of national economy.

 With a network of 10 branches, SGBG operates as a retail bank. Every day, SGBG enables projects of individual clients and supports development of Corporates, cities and country.

Freight Forwarding Agents

There are a few reliable freight forwarding agents in Guinea Conakry. The main agents are based in the Cité de Chemins de fer. The major freight forwarders are Ama Africa, Bolloré Africa, Transco and TTM which is specialized in exemption formalities. The aforementioned companies offer good service and have the capacity to pre-finance their activities.

Handling Equipment Rentals

Freight handling equipment is available for rent or lease such as forklifts and other materials. The pallets available are mainly not from good quality and are not conform to the European standards. The price of a pallet can vary from US $4 to US $10.

Postal and Courier Services

The national post is undergoing a major renovation and revitalization. There are post offices in the major cities and towns in the country. The major international express courier companies are also present in Guinea and offer their services on national and international levels.

Publishing/Printing Service Providers

Publishing and printing service providers are limited in Guinea but available and offer acceptable service in quality and price.

Taxi Companies

Taxis are owned by individuals and there aren’t any taxi companies in the country. The taxis are old cars, badly maintained and driven by unqualified drivers so it might be dangerous to travel by taxi.

Vehicle Rental

There is a good number of companies offering vehicle rentals. These companies showed a good capacity in providing sufficient vehicles during the Ebola crisis and were able to satisfy the high demand on vehicles from the humanitarian organizations in a short period of time. The vehicles are usually in good condition and accompanied by experienced drivers. 

Electricity and Power 

The power supplier in the country is the ‘Electricité de Guinée’ or EDG, The national grid covers only some cities in the western coast; however, even in Conakry the electricity black out is frequent and some neighborhoods do not receive electricity on a regular basis. The national production is not sufficient and its shortage is one of the principal reasons for investors and businesses closing down. In the regional capitals, electricity is provided through diesel power plants only and the electricity is only available during the night and for a certain period of time, generally between 20h00 and 24h00. Towns and villages are not provided with electricity. This situation obliges individuals and companies to rely heavily on generators. A new hydroelectric plant was inaugurated in July 2015 with total installed capacity of 240 MW but due to the poor condition of the network, only 140 MW are being exploited.

E.g. Hydroelectric power, Thermal power…

Waste Management and Disposal Providers

The household waste management in the capital Conakry, estimated at more than 700 tons per day according to official statistics, seems to have always been at the heart of the challenges facing the governorate of Conakry. Long term appropriate solutions in cleaning up this agglomeration with a population estimated at over two million people are slow.

A structure called the SPTD (public service waste transfer), attached to the governorship of Conakry, is in charge of garbage collection in the various collection points listed in the city to land them the discharge of the ‘Minière’,

Today, it's more than forty small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are responsible for garbage collection at the household level, against payment of a monthly fee of 15,000 or 20,000 Guinean francs per family. A rate which varies according to the zones. A state that by lack of resources, these SMEs that depend on subsidies from some development partners are struggling to function properly. 

Waste Disposal - Non Hazardous

The waste disposal is normally either burnt at site or transported to one of the random landfills in the area.  

Waste Disposal - Hazardous

There are no restrictions regarding the disposal of used motor oil, fuel, electronics / computers, and any other solid waste.

There are no procedures nor processes for disposing of waste water (black and grey water).