Turkish company, Karpowership, has restored power to Guinea-Bissau’s capital after cutting off supplies over an unpaid bill of $15m (£12m).
The company resumed operations late on Wednesday after receiving a payment of $6m from the government.
Bissau had been plunged into darkness for nearly two days, with hospitals affected and radio stations off-air.
The country is one of the poorest in the world and has been beset by instability since independence.
In 2019, its government signed a deal with Karpowership, one of the world’s biggest floating power plant operators, to supply the country with all its power.
A spokesperson for the company told the BBC that Karpowership was “grateful” for Guinea-Bissau’s efforts to pay the bill, which made it possible to resume electricity supplies.
“Following a protracted period of non-payment, our fuel suppliers were no longer able to withstand the delay and had no option but to pause work,” the spokesperson added.
Energy Minister, Isuf Baldé, confirmed that $6m of the $15m bill had been settled.
“In a small and poor country like Guinea-Bissau, carrying out a transfer operation of this level, $10m, takes time,” he said. —BBC
