Electricity in Equatorial Guinea in 2022

In the year 2022, Equatorial Guinea's electricity consumption was primarily powered by fossil fuels, with more than two-thirds of its electricity coming from these sources, and a significant reliance on gas accounting for nearly all of this percentage. On the other hand, low-carbon or clean energy sources comprised almost one-third of the country's electricity mix, with hydropower being the sole contributor to this green segment. This distribution reflects the country's existing preference for fossil fuels, with limited diversification into low-carbon alternatives, highlighting the potential and necessity for Equatorial Guinea to pivot towards more sustainable and cleaner energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce air pollution.

Suggestions

To increase its share of low-carbon electricity generation, Equatorial Guinea could benefit from learning from and collaborating with countries that have successfully transitioned to more clean energy-centric power systems. Although nuclear energy is not currently part of Equatorial Guinea's portfolio, looking at nations such as France or Slovakia, which have achieved high percentages of nuclear power, Equatorial Guinea could consider the development of nuclear infrastructure as a stable and sustainable option. For similar countries, wind energy has proven successful; Cape Verde, with similarities in geographical location and resources, has developed wind energy to provide more than a tenth of its power. Integrating wind along with potential future solar projects could provide a balanced approach to increasing the clean energy portfolio while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

History

Historically, Equatorial Guinea's development of low-carbon electricity has revolved around hydropower, which began to see incremental increases in the early 2010s. Despite zero change in hydropower electricity generation from the 1990s through much of the 2000s, a modest uptick occurred in the years 2012 through 2015, driven by small but consistent growth. However, there have been no increases since, indicating stagnancy in recent years. This historical trend underscores both the hesitation and the opportunity Equatorial Guinea faces in significantly expanding its low-carbon electricity production, and it must now consider leveraging new technologies and resources to drive further growth in this sector.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources