In 2023, fossil fuels supplied almost four-fifths of electricity consumed in Congo-Brazzaville, while low-carbon sources provided about one-fifth. Gas dominated the electricity mix at roughly 74%, accounting for most of the 79% fossil share. Hydropower supplied about 20% of electricity, making up almost all of the country’s 21% low-carbon share. This leaves substantial room to expand clean electricity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, whose use contributes to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Congo - Brazzaville?

Electricity consumption per person is growing, although modestly. It reached a new record of 836 kWh per person in 2023, up 21 kWh, or about 3%, from the previous record of 815 kWh in 2022. Clean electricity has not kept pace: low-carbon generation was 173 kWh per person, about 53 kWh—or nearly a quarter—below its 2018 record of 226 kWh. The overall increase is welcome, but the shortfall in clean generation is concerning. Faster low-carbon growth would help meet rising electricity needs from wider access, electrification and digital services.

Suggestions

Congo-Brazzaville should expand solar generation alongside its existing hydropower and explore nuclear electricity as a longer-term source of reliable, low-carbon supply. Neighboring Congo-Kinshasa, where solar supplies 13% of electricity, offers a particularly relevant regional example; Namibia, with 11% solar, provides another African reference. Investment in solar plants, local solar systems and stronger electricity networks could accelerate clean electricity growth. For nuclear development, Congo-Brazzaville could pursue international partnerships, workforce training and institutional preparation, drawing lessons from France, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity, and Pakistan, where it supplies 13%. These examples illustrate complementary routes to a larger, cleaner electricity supply, rather than targets that must be copied directly.

History

The supplied history shows that low-carbon electricity growth in Congo-Brazzaville has centered on hydropower, with progress interrupted by setbacks. During the 1980s and in 1990, several annual increases of around 0.1 TWh gradually raised generation. The 1990s were more uneven: declines in 1992 and 1993, followed by further losses in 1998 and 1999, outweighed the recorded increase in 1996. Generation rebounded by 0.2 TWh in 2000, followed by smaller opposing changes in 2002 and 2003 and no change in 2009. The early 2010s brought stronger growth, especially a 0.4 TWh increase in 2011 and another 0.2 TWh in 2012. Smaller gains in 2015 and 2017 were followed by a disappointing 0.2 TWh decline in 2019, underscoring the importance of sustained clean electricity expansion.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade