The electricity consumption in the Central African Republic is currently significantly below the global average of 410 watts per person. Almost all of the electricity being consumed is generated from low-carbon sources, mostly hydro. The country is practically not dependent on fossil fuels for its electricity generation, a notable feature that sets it apart from many countries around the world. However, despite the dominance of low-carbon energy, the electricity generation in the country is close to none when compared to the global scale, causing severe constraints on the economic development and well-being of its citizens.
To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, the Central African Republic can learn from the strategies used by other countries. For example, countries like Brazil and Vietnam have successfully harnessed wind and solar power, two low-carbon sources that are abundant in the Central African Republic as well. Also, the investment in nuclear energy by countries like the United States and France shows the potential of nuclear energy as a dependable and sizable low-carbon electricity source. Moreover, the generation of electricity using wind in countries like Spain and India, countries with similar size and weather conditions, highlights the untapped low-carbon energy potential in the Central African Republic.
Looking back at the history of low-carbon electricity in the Central African Republic, there was a small commencement at the start of the 21st century with the establishing of hydroelectric facilities resulting in a modest increase of 0.1 TWh in 2000. However, since then, there has been no remarkable change in the electricity generation till the end of 2019 according to the given data, with hydro power standing stagnant at roughly the same level. Despite maintaining a continuous, albeit small, share of low-carbon electricity over the years, the country seemed to have refrained from making further strides in expanding its horizons beyond hydroelectric power and thus missed opportunities for growth in the clean energy sector.