Assessing the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the Souapiti hydropower dam on local communities: Empirical Insights from Bangouyah, Republic of Guinea

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Hydroelectric infrastructure represents a strategic lever for meeting the growing energy demands of developing countries while supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy. However, the implementation of such projects often generates significant socioeconomic and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. This study assesses the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the Souapiti Hydropower Dam on the local communities of Bangouyah in the Republic of Guinea by examining changes in living conditions, economic activities, natural resources, as well as the effectiveness of the compensation and resettlement mechanisms implemented. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys of 500 households, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, field observations, and a comprehensive review of relevant literature and project documents. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis to provide an integrated understanding of the phenomena under investigation. The findings reveal that, despite the dam's significant contribution to increasing national electricity generation, local communities continue to face substantial challenges, including the loss of agricultural land, declining agricultural and fishing activities, degradation of certain ecosystems, and persistent difficulties in restoring livelihoods. The study also identifies shortcomings in compensation mechanisms, limited community participation in decision-making processes, and a gap between the project's sustainable development objectives and the lived experiences of affected households. These findings underscore the need for more inclusive governance of large-scale infrastructure projects. This research makes an empirical contribution to the literature on the impacts of hydropower dams in West Africa and provides a set of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening compensation mechanisms, enhancing community participation, and promoting the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of future hydropower projects in the Republic of Guinea.