It's a revolution in this isolated village nestled in the mountains and difficult to access. Getting there takes more than two hours on rough roads from the nearest paved road. "In the past, at night, we were plunged into darkness like many other isolated villages in the Sahel and Africa. Now, we have electricity almost 24 hours a day," Marc rejoices.
Marc is convinced that the hydroelectric potential is significant enough to provide electricity to the entire population. "And, above all, it is a clean and sustainable energy source for the entire community. It does not pollute our environment or our planet."
A philosopher at the service of his community
When he decided to undertake this project, Marc Tamba Tolno was no stranger to the renewable energy sector. He had already installed solar panels in Firadou, "but that was not enough to supply the entire village. “So, I had another idea: to build a micro-dam that powers an electric plant," Marc explains. He learned how to do this by watching scientific reports on the Internet. "Whenever I had internet access or went to town, I would spend hours browsing on my phone. That’s how I gathered the necessary information and got started," he recalls.
Yet, nothing had predestined this young man to undertake such projects. Marc is neither a trained engineer nor an electrician; he studied philosophy in Conakry, the Guinean capital. Instead of settling in the city, he decided to return to Firadou, determined to change the daily life of the village where he grew up. "We are in remote areas where the government has not yet been able to provide electricity. It is up to us to be agents of change," he explains.
A Revolution in Firadou
At first, Marc Tamba Tolno had to convince the villagers, particularly the elders, to roll up their sleeves and get involved.
"Some thought I was crazy. It was an ambitious project that couldn't be done without the entire community's support."
Marc Tamba, Researcher and Member of the Firadou Energy Management Committe
Patiently, he convinced the most reluctant and raised funds from the people of Firadou, which allowed him to start construction. "All the youth got involved in the project. They knew it would radically change the village's life," he assures.
In 2017, the dam and its electric plant went into operation. "It changed our daily lives," says Faya Saché, a village elder. "We can light up our homes, study in the evening, charge our mobile phones, or even watch television. Things that may seem normal in the city, but for us, were exceptional." People even come from neighboring villages to use our electricity.
Job Creation
Marc's project and that of the residents of Firadou have achieved success that extends beyond their region's borders. In 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) decided to finance the construction of a second dam and a more powerful hydroelectric power station by injecting nearly USD250,000. "Today, thanks to this, all residents benefit from electricity," says Mamadou Ciré Camara, head of the Environment and Sustainable Development Program at UNDP Guinea. "In a broader sense, these dams are part of a vast project that we are carrying out for the adaptation and mitigation of the effects of climate change in Guinea," he said. The maintenance of the dams is carried out by a team of local technicians trained by the Guinean Ministry of Energy. They receive small incentive bonuses as compensation.
These projects have diversified the economy and created several jobs in the village. For instance, a woman invested in a refrigerator and now offers fresh drinks all day; a young man was able to buy a welding machine; irrigation systems with electric pumps were created, and several people now make a living from fish farming thanks to ponds created in the water reservoirs that feed the dam. "The youth no longer need to go to the city to work and earn money. Access to energy in rural areas is a lever for development. Young people no longer need to go to the city to work and earn money," adds Mr. Ciré Camara.
Firadou on the Path to Energy Transition
In addition, Firadou no longer relies on fossil fuels thanks to these two dams and the still-functioning solar panels. "Before, we used kerosene lamps, and our generators ran on diesel. Today, with hydroelectric power, we don't need them anymore. And besides, it's much cheaper," rejoices Marc. "My ambition is to build other hydroelectric power plants in other remote areas that are not connected to the national grid. "This is my contribution to the energy transition in Guinea. Renewable energy is the future of our country and the Sahel," this committed man emphasizes.
Finally, Marc issues a call to action: "Young people of the Sahel, let's mobilize for the energy transition!" He aims to tell young people that changing lives in the sub-region is possible, and he is the perfect example.
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