As of 2023, the electricity consumption landscape in Côte d'Ivoire comprises a mix of fossil and low-carbon sources. The country generates around 11 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in total, where more than two-thirds is derived from fossil fuels, especially gas, accounting for approximately 7.7 TWh. Low-carbon sources provide the remainder, with hydropower being the dominant low-carbon source, contributing roughly 3.4 TWh. When considering the total electricity consumption per person, Côte d'Ivoire is substantially below the global average, with only 357 kWh/person compared to the global average of 3781 kWh/person. Such low levels of electricity generation can hinder economic development, limit access to modern amenities, and stall the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon future.
Is Electricity Growing in Côte d’Ivoire?
Reflecting on the growth and trends, Côte d'Ivoire's electricity consumption per person has declined recently, with a drop from a historic high of 415 kWh/person in 2022 to 357 kWh/person in 2023. Notably, this marks a decrease of 58 kWh/person in just one year. The trend in low-carbon electricity consumption shows a more prolonged decline, with the latest figures standing at 111 kWh/person compared to the high of 199 kWh/person in 1981. This concerning trend of diminishing electricity consumption, especially low-carbon electricity, necessitates swift action to boost clean energy sources, avoiding further setbacks in fulfilling the population's electricity requirements.
Suggestions
For Côte d'Ivoire to ramp up its low-carbon electricity generation, promoting solar and nuclear energy will be essential. The People's Republic of China's significant strides in deploying wind and solar power, generating 992 TWh and 834 TWh, respectively, offer an inspiring model for solar expansion. Meanwhile, France's robust nuclear generation of 379 TWh exemplifies the potential of nuclear energy in producing reliable, low-carbon electricity. Côte d'Ivoire can draw inspiration from these examples, investing in solar projects to leverage its ample sunlight and considering plans to develop nuclear energy facilities to provide consistent electricity supply while curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
History
Examining the historical trends from the early 1980s, it is evident that Côte d'Ivoire has experienced fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, predominantly influenced by changes in hydropower output. In the early 1980s, hydropower generation witnessed a significant decline; however, this trend began to stabilize and occasionally grew in subsequent years, such as in 1985 and the late 1990s, with notable increases like the 0.9 TWh rise in 2018. Despite these occasional increments, the general pattern has been uneven, with more recent data in 2021 indicating another decrease of 0.7 TWh. This inconsistency highlights the need for diversification and expansion into other low-carbon energy sources like nuclear and solar, ensuring a sustainable and continuous rise in clean electricity generation.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.