Electricity in Côte d’Ivoire in 2021
In 2021, the state of electricity consumption in Côte d’Ivoire was significantly below the global average of 412 watts/person, registering at only 46 watts/person. Fossil energy, specifically gas, contributed to just under 70% of this with approximately 32 watts/person, marking a significant reliance on this form of generation. As for low-carbon energy sources, providing almost 14 watts/person, almost all was generated by hydropower which provided a virtually equivalent amount. Solar contribution was almost negligible at just 0.04 watts/person. Compared to other countries, Côte d’Ivoire's electricity generation is low, which could be contributing to potential stifled economic development as electricity is key for businesses and industries.
Suggestions
Côte d’Ivoire, while already being a net exporter of electricity, could learn from other countries to boost its low-carbon electricity generation. Given their almost entirely hydropower-based low-carbon generation, a look towards countries like Sweden, France, or Belgium, which feature a strong nuclear output, could offer some insights. These countries generate anywhere from 434 to 559 watts/person from nuclear energy alone. Despite certain geographical and infrastructural differences, there could be potential areas to tap into, knowing that nuclear power has proven successful elsewhere as a low-carbon source. Additionally, a glance at countries like Denmark or Uruguay, producing almost 370 and 160 watts/person respectively from wind energy, may guide a diversification initiative towards wind power.
History
Low-carbon electricity in Côte d’Ivoire has a history marked by fluctuations. In the early 1980s, they began electricity generation by hydropower, but saw a decline in the following years. The late 1980s and 1990s saw this energy source experience notable ebbs and flows, with increases up to 0.9 TWh and decreases to as low as -0.7 TWh. More recently, the last two decades of the 21st century have generally seen more consistency in the increase of hydroelectricity generation. From 2010 to 2019, there were fluctuations, but there was a general positive upward trend. Despite some years of negative change, their hydroelectric production has been rising, suggesting a focus on this low-carbon energy source as an area for continued growth.