In 2009, the latest year in the supplied data, electricity consumption in Western Sahara was just 228 kWh per person—about 6% of the global average of 3,794 kWh per person, or roughly one-seventeenth as much. Reported low-carbon electricity generation was zero. However, no breakdown of fossil-fuel generation or electricity imports is provided, so the consumption mix cannot be established from these figures alone. Such low electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, water supply and business development. Expanding clean electricity would help support these essential services and future demand from electrification.

Is Electricity Growing in Western Sahara?

Electricity consumption per person was not reaching new highs in Western Sahara. The 2009 figure was 74 kWh below the record of 302 kWh per person set in 2002—a decline of about a quarter. This indicates a substantial retreat from the earlier peak, although the figures do not establish whether total consumption also fell, because population changes matter. Low-carbon generation remained at zero kWh per person, unchanged from its recorded benchmark in 2000. This lack of clean electricity growth is concerning given the need to improve electricity access and support economic development.

Suggestions

Western Sahara could prioritize solar generation, supported by wind, storage and stronger electricity networks. Sunny, arid places offer useful examples: the supplied comparison data show Chile generating about 23 TWh from solar and the US state of Arizona generating a similar amount. Spain, with around 67 TWh of solar and 58 TWh of wind generation, illustrates how both sources can contribute substantially. Nuclear should also be considered in long-term regional electricity planning, including opportunities to access dependable nuclear electricity through interconnected grids. The United Arab Emirates, with about 32 TWh of nuclear generation alongside 14 TWh of solar, provides a relevant example of combining these clean sources in an arid setting. These figures illustrate successful deployment rather than appropriate project sizes for Western Sahara.

History

The supplied historical information shows no recorded low-carbon generation at the 2000 benchmark or at the 2009 endpoint. These two observations indicate no improvement between those reference points, but they do not establish what happened in every intervening year. No year-by-year changes or technology-specific historical entries were included, so a more detailed account of solar, wind or nuclear development cannot be supported. The clear priority emerging from the available evidence is to move beyond zero reported low-carbon generation toward sustained growth in clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade