Djibouti's current electricity consumption in 2023 shows a strong reliance on external sources, with net imports accounting for more than two-thirds of the total electricity supply. Fossil fuels contribute to almost a fifth of the electricity mix, highlighting a significant dependency on non-renewable energy sources which may exacerbate environmental and pollution concerns. Nevertheless, Djibouti has managed to harness wind energy, which represents close to a tenth of its total electricity consumption, placing it as the sole low-carbon energy source currently utilized in the country. This setup underscores the necessity for Djibouti to broaden its clean energy portfolio by implementing other low-carbon solutions such as solar or nuclear energy to achieve a more sustainable energy future and reduce reliance on imported electricity.

Data sources used on this page include EIA and Ember. More about data sources →

Is Electricity Growing in Djibouti?

A review of Djibouti's electricity consumption trend reveals a slight decline, which is not a promising sign for a country aiming to develop its infrastructure and economy. Current data indicates that electricity consumption has decreased to 616 kWh per person in 2023 from a previous high of 633 kWh per person in 2021. This reduction suggests a stagnation in energy availability, which could impede economic and social growth. Additionally, low-carbon electricity generation recorded a slight drop from its peak of 62 kWh per person in 2021 to 61 kWh per person this year. The decline in both overall and low-carbon electricity availability might result in reduced adoption of clean technology and increased carbon emissions due to elevated fossil fuel reliance.

Suggestions

To enhance low-carbon electricity generation, Djibouti can draw lessons from regions that have successfully expanded their clean energy infrastructure. Given Djibouti’s potential for abundant sunlight, it could look to countries like Lebanon and Cyprus, which generate more than 20% of their electricity through solar power, demonstrating solar energy's viability in similar climates. Furthermore, expanding wind energy capacity could be inspired by Denmark and South Dakota, where more than half of their electricity comes from wind power. Additionally, considering nuclear energy as part of the future energy mix could significantly bolster energy security and reliability, taking inspiration from countries like Slovakia and Slovenia with high shares of nuclear energy in their electricity mix. Embracing these strategies will be vital as Djibouti works towards a cleaner, more resilient, and independent energy system.

History

Historically, Djibouti’s foray into low-carbon electricity is primarily marked by the modest development of wind energy. In 2021, the country saw a small but positive increase of 0.1 TWh in wind electricity generation, indicating an initial step towards cleaner energy production. However, this progress seemed to stagnate in the following two years, with no recorded growth in wind energy generation for 2022 and 2023. This stagnation calls for urgent action to revamp the growth trajectory and incorporate additional low-carbon strategies such as solar and nuclear energy. Boosting the per capita clean energy consumption is crucial for reducing Djibouti’s dependency on imported energy and fostering sustainable development.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade