In 2023, Cameroon’s electricity consumption totaled about 8.3 TWh, with almost two-thirds supplied by low-carbon sources and just over one-third by fossil fuels. Clean electricity contributed 5.3 TWh, almost entirely from hydropower, while fossil fuels supplied 3 TWh, including about 2 TWh from gas. Electricity consumption averaged just 296 kWh per person, less than one-twelfth of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person. Such low electricity availability can constrain industry, healthcare, education and household services, while limiting opportunities for electrification and digital development.

Is Electricity Growing in Cameroon?

Cameroon’s latest figures show a worrying shortfall from past per-person electricity records rather than sustained growth. Consumption in 2023 was about 16% below the 2015 peak of 352 kWh per person—a decline of 56 kWh per person. Low-carbon generation averaged 188 kWh per person, roughly 27% below its 2006 record of 258 kWh per person, a shortfall of about 71 kWh using the underlying figures. These comparisons do not establish whether total generation declined, since population growth also affects per-person results, but they clearly show that electricity provision per person has lost ground. Reversing this trend is important for economic development and future electricity demand.

Suggestions

Cameroon can increase clean electricity generation by expanding solar alongside its established hydropower system, strengthening electricity networks and considering nuclear power as part of a long-term development strategy. South Africa offers a relevant regional example, generating about 20 TWh from solar and 12 TWh from nuclear in the supplied comparison. Brazil, another tropical region with substantial hydropower, demonstrates the possibilities of diversification, with about 88 TWh of solar and 110 TWh of wind electricity. Cameroon could draw lessons from these places on procurement, workforce development and grid integration, while assessing suitable wind resources locally. For nuclear development, international partnerships, technical training and strong regulatory institutions would provide a foundation for reliable low-carbon electricity. Expanding these clean sources would help meet rising demand while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and their climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

Cameroon’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by hydropower growth, interrupted by several setbacks. The listed increases during the 1980s totaled about 1 TWh, followed by two further gains of 0.2 TWh in the late 1990s. Hydropower fell by 0.3 TWh in 2002 but recovered in 2003 and grew another 0.4 TWh in 2004. Between 2005 and 2012, smaller gains and declines alternated, alongside a larger 0.4 TWh hydro increase in 2008. Biofuel electricity briefly rose by 0.6 TWh in 2006 before falling by the same amount in 2007. Later hydropower gains of 0.7 TWh in 2017 and 0.2 TWh in 2020 were welcome advances, although the broader per-person shortfall underscores the need for more sustained clean electricity expansion.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade