Electricity in Burkina Faso in 2022

In 2022, Burkina Faso experienced significant reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, with the majority of its energy coming from these sources. Almost none of the country's electricity was produced through low-carbon methods, such as solar or wind energy. Net imports of electricity totaled approximately 1.55 TWh, indicating a dependence on other nations to meet its energy needs. Compared to the global average of 3,638 watts per person, Burkina Faso's electricity consumption was considerably low, highlighting potential challenges in industrial development, economic growth, and quality of life improvements due to limited access to reliable power.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Burkina Faso can look to countries that have successfully implemented clean energy technologies. For example, neighboring nations like Brazil and India have achieved substantial outputs from wind and solar energy, generating 102 TWh and 128 TWh from these sources, respectively. Burkina Faso could also aim to develop small-scale solar projects, drawing inspiration from countries like Vietnam and Australia, which have made noteworthy progress in solar generation. Moreover, embracing nuclear energy, as successfully demonstrated by France and the United States, could offer Burkina Faso a reliable and scalable solution for meeting its long-term electricity needs sustainably.

History

Historically, Burkina Faso's efforts to increase low-carbon electricity have been modest. In the late 1990s, there was an initial attempt to expand hydroelectric power, with minor gains recorded in 1996 and 1999. However, the early 21st century saw stagnation in hydro capacity and near-zero investment in other low-carbon energies until solar emerged as a potential source in 2018. This led to a modest increase in solar-generated electricity. While the steps taken thus far have been small, they lay a foundation for potentially augmenting the country's green energy landscape in the coming years.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources