Electricity in Bolivia in 2023

As of 2023, Bolivia's electricity consumption is primarily powered by fossil fuels, with 8.65 TWh coming from fossil energy sources and 8.44 TWh specifically from natural gas. This means that fossil fuels make up the vast majority of Bolivia's electricity consumption. On the other hand, the country generates around 3.5 TWh from low-carbon sources, with approximately 2.31 TWh coming from hydropower. This low-carbon contribution represents less than a third of the total electricity generation, indicating a significant reliance on fossil fuels. When compared to the global average of 432 watts per person, Bolivia falls short, as its total electricity generation and distribution are considerably lower. Low levels of electricity generation can limit economic growth, access to education, and healthcare, potentially hindering overall development.

Suggestions

Bolivia can increase its low-carbon electricity generation by learning from other successful countries. For instance, the People's Republic of China has made significant strides with wind energy, generating 886 TWh, and solar energy, contributing 584 TWh. Similarly, countries like Brazil and India have also shown promising results; Brazil generates 96 TWh from wind and 52 TWh from solar, while India produces 113 TWh from solar and 82 TWh from wind. These countries demonstrate that investment and development in solar and wind technologies can substantially increase low-carbon electricity generation. Bolivia could benefit from adopting similar strategies, such as expanding wind and solar farms, by leveraging its geographical advantages and potentially collaborating with international partners to tap into clean and sustainable energy sources.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Bolivia has seen fluctuations, predominantly in hydropower. In the early 1980s, there was a slight decline in hydroelectric power, with a dip of 0.2 TWh in 1980. The 1990s and early 2000s were marked by a series of modest increases and decreases, such as a gain of 0.2 TWh in 1993 and a loss of 0.2 TWh in 1994. Similar small shifts continued through the 2000s, with notable increases in 2011, 2013, 2015, and substantial gains of 0.5 TWh in 2017 and 0.6 TWh in 2019. However, 2016 and more recent years saw decreases, with a notable decline of 0.8 TWh in 2016 and a 0.5 TWh drop in 2023. A positive addition was the introduction of wind energy in 2022, contributing 0.3 TWh. This historical context highlights Bolivia's potential to stabilize and expand its low-carbon electricity generation through strategic investments and consistent policy support.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources