The Energy Gamble

The Darkness Before the Dawn

I needed to trust completely in my surroundings when I walked through Bissau during evening hours. The city became completely dark because diesel generators operated with unpredictable intermittent power output. Medical facilities postponed all their surgical procedures. All businesses closed their doors before sunset. Students conducted their studies by using candles for illumination. The power grid of Guinea-Bissau operated as a deceptive system which repeatedly delivered blackouts to its population.

The floating power plant operated by Karpowership became available to Guinea-Bissau in 2019 as a massive industrial vessel which docked near the coastline. The power plant restored electricity to the entire city through a quick restoration process. The air conditioning systems started operating again. Bissau experienced its first period of reliable electricity during a time when no one could remember such stability.

But there was a catch.

The solution which brought temporary stability turned out to be a dangerous deal. The foreign corporation gained complete control of Guinea-Bissau's energy supply in exchange for providing temporary power stability to the nation. The agreement enabled foreign powers to gain control of essential national infrastructure through a stealthy acquisition process. The disagreements between parties would lead to major problems.

A Desperate Turn to Floating Power

The energy crisis in Guinea-Bissau developed through many years of underfunding and corruption and poor management of the power grid. The state-owned utility EAGB operated as a non-functional organization because it struggled with financial problems and poor operational performance. The majority of power generation occurred through outdated diesel generators which proved to be expensive and unsustainable because they depleted government funds.

Enter Karpowership.

The Turkish company operates floating power plants which consist of large ships equipped with gas or fuel-powered generators that can be deployed to generate electricity for national grids. The government accepted this proposal because it needed an immediate solution to its power crisis. The company provided an attractive solution because it required no construction period and small initial costs to start delivering power right away.

And so, the deal was struck.

The Kaya Bey ship started delivering electricity to Bissau's power grid which brought stability to the city for the first time since years. The city experienced a new era of business operations and government offices maintained their daily operations beyond noon hours. The population experienced a strong sense of relief.

But beneath the surface, trouble was brewing.

The Trap of Dependency

The implementation of quick solutions leads to permanent situations which become difficult to change. The control of a single foreign-operated power plant remains with the operators instead of the nation that depends on it.

The government of Guinea-Bissau entered into a binding agreement which made it impossible to switch to different power sources. The Karpowership contract contains terms which prevent Guinea-Bissau from switching to different power sources. The government must purchase power at prices that follow worldwide fuel market fluctuations which creates financial instability for the national budget. The country failed to develop its power grid infrastructure or renewable energy systems because the ship operated as the primary solution until it stopped working.

The first major crisis emerged in 2022.

When the Ship Stops: A Nation Held Hostage

The payment dispute between the two parties triggered the start of the crisis. Karpowership operates as a profit-driven company which refuses to provide financial assistance to developing nations. The company performed a power shutdown because Guinea-Bissau failed to pay its outstanding financial debts. The company followed through with its threat to cut off power supply.

The city of Bissau experienced an extended period of darkness which lasted for multiple days. Medical facilities maintained operation of their life-saving equipment through backup generators until power returned during the outage. All businesses throughout the city shut down their operations. The government encountered public shame during their attempts to establish negotiations with Karpowership for power grid recovery.

The situation revealed that the corporation needed Guinea-Bissau more than Guinea-Bissau needed the corporation.

The situation exceeded standard commercial disputes because it showed how a state-backed foreign company used its energy management to take full control of an entire nation.

Turkey’s Shadow: The Geopolitical Strings Attached

Karpowership operates as a Turkish energy company which extends beyond its status as a private enterprise. The Turkish government uses Karpowership as part of its African expansion plan which combines economic growth with political influence. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has led Turkey to establish military bases in Somalia and construction projects in Senegal as part of its expanding African presence. The energy deal with Guinea-Bissau serves as a strategic component of Turkey's continental expansion plan.

The situation creates severe risks which endanger the national sovereignty of the country. A nation which depends on foreign-controlled electricity supply loses its ability to negotiate effectively in business transactions and diplomatic relations. The government must negotiate with foreign powers about military alliances and voting positions and diplomatic relations when electricity supply becomes a point of negotiation.

The West African region faces increased complexity because Turkey has established its energy presence in the region. The nation of Guinea-Bissau became a strategic asset which different nations used in their worldwide political competition.

A Way Out?Lessons from the Brink

Multiple nations throughout the world including Ghana and Lebanon have encountered similar situations when they used floating power plants as emergency solutions. A nation can escape its current situation only when its political leaders demonstrate strong backing for innovative solution development.

1. Breaking the Monopoly

The nation needs to establish multiple energy supply routes as its initial fundamental requirement. The nation receives enough sunlight to operate solar power generation as its main energy production system. The deployment of small-scale renewable energy systems across Guinea-Bissau would decrease its dependence on Karpowership power while allowing the country to build its own domestic energy infrastructure.

2. Regional Partnerships

The nation needs to create common energy infrastructure with neighboring states because this method protects the country from power outages that stem from single points of failure. The West African Power Pool (WAPP) exists to support exactly this type of power sharing but Guinea-Bissau has not completed its full membership process.

3. Renegotiating from a Position of Strength

The present contract includes unfair provisions but it remains possible to make changes to these terms. The government should invest in alternative energy solutions to gain negotiating power with Karpowership for better contract terms.

Conclusion: Sovereignty in the Dark

Any nation which chooses fast solutions for its problems will experience the same disastrous outcome as Guinea-Bissau did with Karpowership. A state requires electricity to maintain its operational capabilities. A nation loses its sovereignty when it gives away control of its vital resource to foreign entities.

The present electricity system offers brief lighting but requires countries to give up their ability to govern themselves. Every nation needs to defend its sovereignty against these expensive agreements.