Electricity in Congo - Brazzaville in 2022

In 2022, electricity consumption in Congo-Brazzaville displayed a significant reliance on fossil fuels, with more than three-quarters of the electricity—about 77.5%—being produced from fossil energy sources. Of this, natural gas took the dominant share, contributing around 72.5% to the total electricity generation. In contrast, low-carbon energy sources accounted for approximately 22.5% of the electricity, with hydropower being the sole low-carbon energy source utilized, providing the entire low-carbon electricity share. This indicates a lopsided energy mix heavily skewed towards fossil fuels, underscoring a substantial opportunity for further development of clean energy sources to curb pollution and mitigate climate change impact.

Suggestions

Congo-Brazzaville can enhance its low-carbon electricity generation by learning from countries that have successfully integrated clean energy into their electricity mix. For instance, Denmark's remarkable achievement of generating 61% of its electricity from wind energy illustrates the potential of this clean technology in suitable climates. Additionally, Uruguay and Ireland, which generate around 36% and 34% of their electricity from wind respectively, further demonstrate the viability of leveraging wind power. Besides, nuclear energy is another effective route to reducing reliance on fossil fuels, as seen in countries like France and Slovakia, where nuclear accounts for more than 60% of their electricity. By exploring the feasibility of wind and nuclear energy, Congo-Brazzaville could diversify its electricity sources and significantly increase its low-carbon energy share.

History

Historically, the development of low-carbon electricity in Congo-Brazzaville has hinged solely on hydropower, which saw modest increments during the early 1980s, with an annual increase of about 0.1 TWh. Some minor fluctuations occurred during the 1990s, with both incremental and decremental changes, such as a notable decrease of 0.2 TWh in 1999. The early 21st century presented some growth, particularly in 2011, with a significant leap in generation by 0.4 TWh, evidencing hydropower's capacity as a strategic low-carbon option. However, the country's reliance on hydropower has shown to be uneven, highlighting the need for a more dependable and diversified approach to clean energy generation. Transitioning towards a more robust mix, including nuclear and wind, could secure a more stable low-carbon electricity future while reducing the environmental footprint.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources