Electricity in Gabon in 2022

In 2022, Gabon's electricity consumption was primarily powered by fossil and gas sources, which together accounted for more than two-thirds of its total electricity generation of 3.5 terawatt-hours (TWh). Specifically, fossil fuels generated about 1.38 TWh and gas accounted for 1.14 TWh. Low-carbon sources, primarily hydro, contributed to 1 TWh of electricity. Comparatively, Gabon's total per capita electricity consumption is significantly below the global average of 432 watts per person, indicating potential issues such as limited industrial growth, constrained economic development, and restricted access to reliable electric power for its population.

Suggestions

To expand its low-carbon electricity generation, Gabon can look to the successes of other countries, especially those with comparable geographies or economies. For instance, Brazil has seen substantial electricity generation from wind energy, contributing 96 TWh, showing that wind could be a viable option given Gabon's coastal and windy regions. Additionally, solar energy has been successfully harnessed in countries with high solar potential like India and Brazil, generating 113 TWh and 52 TWh respectively. Understanding and potentially adopting technology and best practices from these nations can significantly contribute to upping Gabon's reliance on clean energy. Furthermore, given the long-term benefits and reliability, developing nuclear energy could also be an extremely impactful strategy, as seen in developed nations like France and South Korea.

History

In the history of low-carbon electricity in Gabon, hydroelectric power generation has played a consistent but fluctuating role since the early 1980s. Small increments of 0.1 TWh were regularly added in 1981, 1982, 1984, and 1985. However, periods of stagnation and even decline occurred from 1994 to 1997 and from 2002 to 2007, suggesting challenges in maintaining continuous improvements. From 2008 through 2019, there were efforts of adding 0.1 TWh sporadically, but also moments of backslide as seen in 2011 and 2014 when hydroelectric capacity decreased by 0.1 TWh each time. This indicates that while hydroelectric power forms the backbone of low-carbon electricity in Gabon, consistent investment and technological updates are required to ensure sustainable growth in low-carbon electricity generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources