Electricity in Eritrea in 2022

In 2022, Eritrea's electricity consumption was remarkably low, with reliance heavily skewed towards fossil fuels due to nearly non-existent low-carbon electricity generation. The total electricity usage per person was significantly less than 1 watt, far below the global average of 3,638 watts per person. This stark difference underscores an urgent challenge for Eritrea, as low electricity generation hampers development prospects, restricts access to essential services, and impacts overall quality of life. A reliance on fossil fuels also imposes environmental and health risks through air pollution and contributes to climate change, further exacerbating economic and social vulnerabilities.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Eritrea could look towards harnessing solar and wind resources, given its conducive geographic and climatic conditions. By learning from countries such as Brazil and India, which have significantly boosted their wind and solar capacities to 102 TWh and 128 TWh respectively, Eritrea could undertake strategic investments in these clean technologies. Further inspiration can be drawn from China's example, where substantial advancements in wind (1,003 TWh) and solar power (710 TWh) have propelled its energy transition, demonstrating that with coordinated policy support and global partnerships, scale-up of low-carbon energy is very achievable. Exploring options to integrate nuclear power, as seen in France and the United States, which generate substantial electricity from nuclear sources, could provide Eritrea with a reliable base-load option, crucial for a stable and diversified energy mix.

History

Historically, Eritrea's development of low-carbon electricity has been stagnant for decades. Since the late 1990s, there have been no significant changes or improvements in either solar or wind energy generation, with annual contributions of these technologies remaining at zero. Such inertia might stem from economic, infrastructural, or policy constraints, but marks a missed opportunity given global advancements in these sectors during the same period. Breaking this longstanding pattern by embracing policies that foster investment and innovation in solar, wind, and nuclear technologies could transform Eritrea’s energy landscape, boosting its energy independence and environmental sustainability.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources