Electricity in Cameroon in 2021

As of 2021, Cameroon's electricity consumption presents a picture of a developing nation striving for a cleaner energy mix. The data reveals that the nation is generating close to 8 TWh of electricity, with low-carbon energy sources contributing a significant role. The Hydropower, a part of the low-carbon energy source, generates almost 5 TWh, implying that more than half the country's electricity comes from water resources. The remainder comprises 3 TWh of electricity generated from fossil fuels, marking a clear need to diminish reliance on these high-carbon energy sources. Cameroon's per-person electricity consumption lags far behind the global average of 410 watts, suggesting a low level of industrialization and economic development. This relatively low level of electricity generation could impede technological progress and quality of life improvements.

Suggestions

Upon scrutinizing international models of low-carbon electricity generation, it becomes clear that there are several paths for Cameroon to bolster its clean energy capacity. With similar geography to Brazil and a significant potential in wind resource, Cameroon may want to take inspiration from Brazil's success in the wind sector. Brazil, in recent times, has managed to generate 94 TWh of electricity from wind. Also, given Cameroon's equatorial position, it possesses great potential to scale up the generation of solar energy, like in India. India recently generated 120 TWh from solar energy, showing how a developing country with a significant rural population could tap into its solar potential. Furthermore, while Cameroon currently has no nuclear power, nations like South Korea, generating 172 TWh from nuclear, highlight potential for Cameroon to increase its low-carbon generation significantly by exploring this robust and reliable energy source.

History

Cameroon's historical data divulges a consistent effort at expanding low-carbon energy in its power sector, predominantly through hydroelectricity. Since the early 1980s, there has been a gradual yet steady increase in hydropower generation. This is evidenced by incremental increases in production in 1981, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1997, 1999, and throughout the early 2000s. However, it wasn't without a few hiccups, such as a temporary decline in 2002, 2005, 2009, and most recently in 2021. Notably, while other low-carbon energy types have not figured prominently in the country's historical power mix, there was an interesting biofuels experiment in 2006. Despite this, the nation's ongoing quest for a clean energy future heavily leans on hydroelectricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources