In 2023, fossil fuels supplied just over three-quarters of Papua New Guinea’s electricity, while low-carbon sources provided almost a quarter. Hydropower dominated clean electricity production, accounting for about 21% of the overall electricity mix, with geothermal contributing around 2%. Gas alone supplied roughly 19% of electricity. This heavy reliance on fossil electricity leaves considerable room for expanding clean generation and reducing the climate impacts and air pollution associated with fossil fuels.

Is Electricity Growing in Papua New Guinea?

Papua New Guinea’s electricity consumption per person remains well below its historical peak rather than showing sustained growth. In 2023, consumption was about 455 kWh per person, roughly 100 kWh below the record of 555 kWh reached in 2004—an approximately 18% shortfall. Low-carbon electricity generation was about 108 kWh per person, down from its 1995 record of 194 kWh, a decline of 86 kWh, or roughly 44%. These disappointing gaps highlight the need to expand electricity supply, especially clean electricity, to support wider access, electrification and future demand. Per-person figures alone, however, do not establish whether total national electricity consumption is growing.

Suggestions

To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Papua New Guinea could build on its hydropower and geothermal foundations while making solar a major priority. Nearby Pacific island regions offer useful examples: solar supplies about 13% of electricity in both Samoa and Vanuatu. Australia generates around 21% of its electricity from solar, offering another regional example of substantial deployment. Solar installations paired with storage and stronger local grids could help serve dispersed communities. Papua New Guinea should also consider nuclear electricity as part of its long-term clean electricity planning, including developing the necessary institutions, skills and international partnerships. France, where nuclear supplies about two-thirds of electricity, and South Korea, where it supplies a quarter, demonstrate its potential to provide substantial clean electricity alongside solar.

History

Papua New Guinea’s recorded low-carbon electricity history shows intermittent gains rather than steady expansion. During the 1980s, hydropower increased by 0.1 TWh in each of 1983, 1986 and 1989, interrupted by a 0.1 TWh decline in 1987. A larger hydro increase of 0.4 TWh came in 1995; a 0.2 TWh decline in 1997 was reversed the following year. Geothermal expanded during the 2000s, adding 0.1 TWh in 2003, 0.3 TWh in 2005 and another 0.1 TWh in 2007, while hydro was unchanged in the listed years 2004 and 2006. Hydro gained 0.1 TWh in 2011 but fell by 0.2 TWh in 2017. In 2018, geothermal declined by 0.3 TWh while hydro gained 0.1 TWh; hydro then added 0.2 TWh in 2019, with geothermal unchanged. Most recently, hydro’s 0.2 TWh decline in 2022 was reversed by an equal increase in 2023—a welcome recovery, but sustained clean electricity growth is still needed.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade