Electricity in Papua New Guinea in 2022

In Papua New Guinea, electricity consumption in 2022 shows a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, with nearly three-quarters—75% to be precise—of electricity generated from fossil energy. Within the fossil category, gas contributes nearly 19% to the energy mix. Low-carbon energy sources account for roughly a quarter of the electricity generation, with hydropower being the most significant contributor among them at nearly 17%. Geothermal energy supplies a little over 8%, highlighting that Papua New Guinea is already harnessing some form of clean energy, though there is ample room for growth.

Suggestions

Papua New Guinea has significant potential to increase its low-carbon electricity generation, learning from countries that have successfully transitioned to cleaner energy portfolios. For instance, Denmark, which generates 59% of its electricity from wind, demonstrates the viability of wind energy as a robust clean option. Similarly, Uruguay also capitalizes on wind energy, with wind accounting for almost 36% of its electricity generation, exhibiting a path forward that Papua New Guinea could emulate, given its similar geographic conditions conducive to wind energy development. Further, adopting solar energy can be a promising avenue, inspired by countries like Chile and Australia, where solar contributes more than 19% in each. Above all, exploring the potential for nuclear energy, as evident in France's impressive 67% share of electricity from nuclear power, could provide Papua New Guinea with a stable, high-capacity form of low-carbon electricity to dramatically reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Papua New Guinea reveals gradual but sporadic development, notably during the latter part of the 20th century and early years of the 21st century. In the 1980s and 1990s, hydropower underwent several minor ups and downs, with notable incremental increases in 1983, 1986, and a more sizeable growth in 1995 followed by a slight decline in 1997. The early 2000s saw the introduction and growth of geothermal energy, contributing to incremental advancements in clean electricity, with notable increases in 2003 and 2005. However, since 2006, changes in low-carbon energy output have been relatively stagnant, with minor fluctuations in hydropower but no significant new developments. This indicates an opportunity and need to intensify efforts and investment in solidifying and expanding low-carbon electricity generation in the decades to come.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources