In 2023, Cameroon's electricity consumption presents a mixed picture. The majority of its electricity comes from clean, low-carbon sources, with hydropower generating over 5 TWh and other low-carbon sources contributing slightly more. Fossil fuels, primarily gas, form a smaller but still significant part of the energy mix, with around 3 TWh of consumption. Together, hydropower and other low-carbon sources account for more than half of the electricity consumed, which is commendable for environmental sustainability. However, compared to the global average of 3,412 kWh per person, Cameroon’s current electricity consumption at 296 kWh per person is significantly lower. This discrepancy could limit the country's socioeconomic development and its ability to meet the demands of modern technologies and a growing population.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Cameroon?
Examining Cameroon's historical electricity consumption trends, it is clear that electricity use has somewhat stagnated. At 296 kWh per person in 2023, this is a reduction from the peak of 352 kWh per person recorded in 2015. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation decreased from 258 kWh per person in 2006 to 188 kWh per person, indicating a need for revitalization in this sector. The reduction in both overall and low-carbon electricity consumption is concerning, especially as the world moves towards greater electrification and digital integration, raising doubts about the country’s capacity to provide adequate power for future growth.
Suggestions
To bolster its low-carbon electricity generation, Cameroon can learn from regional successes in solar and nuclear energy. While Cameroon might not have the industrial capacity for nuclear energy immediately, following examples of the People’s Republic of China and France could pave the way. These countries have harnessed significant amounts of power from nuclear sources, with more than 480 TWh from China and around 370 TWh from France. Additionally, Cameroon could look to rapidly expanding solar power, inspired by India and Japan, each generating over 100 TWh from solar energy. As countries like Brazil demonstrate with over 100 TWh from wind energy, diversifying into wind could also help Cameroon increase clean energy generation sustainably.
History
Historically, Cameroon's development in low-carbon electricity has centered around hydropower. Throughout the 1980s, progressive and steady increases were noticeable, though some years, such as 2002 and 2005, saw declines. The latter part of the decade included a brief foray into biofuels, but significant growth in hydropower reemerged in the 2010s, especially with a notable increase of 0.7 TWh in 2017. While these developments in hydropower have expanded the clean energy base, the need for diversification into solar and potentially nuclear remains imperative. This diversification could ensure a consistent and resilient energy supply to power Cameroon's future growth and development.
