In 2023, more than half of Zimbabwe’s electricity consumption—about 55%—was supplied by low-carbon sources, overwhelmingly hydropower at roughly 53%. Biofuels contributed about 1%, with other low-carbon sources accounting for only a small remainder. Fossil electricity, entirely coal in the supplied data, represented about 26%, while net imports supplied nearly 19%. The carbon intensity of those imports is not specified, so they should be kept separate from the domestic low-carbon and fossil categories.

Is Electricity Growing in Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe’s electricity consumption per person remains well below its historical peak. In 2023, consumption stood at 625 kWh per person, compared with about 1,100 kWh in 1987—a shortfall of roughly 480 kWh, or 43%. Low-carbon electricity generation was also below its record: 343 kWh per person, compared with 568 kWh in 1980, a decline of about 225 kWh, or 40%. These comparisons do not establish whether electricity grew in the latest year, but they show a concerning long-term gap. Expanding clean electricity supply is essential to support wider electricity access, electrification, industry and future demand, including AI.

Suggestions

Zimbabwe can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding solar, developing suitable wind projects and considering a nuclear programme alongside its existing hydropower. Nearby Namibia, where solar supplies about 11% of electricity, offers a relevant regional example; Pakistan and Chile demonstrate that solar can supply almost a quarter. Kenya’s wind share of about 12% provides another African reference for diversifying clean generation. For nuclear electricity, Zimbabwe could learn from Pakistan, where nuclear contributes about 13%, and from France, where it supplies roughly two-thirds. Practical priorities include stronger transmission networks, clear investment frameworks, workforce training and international partnerships to support substantial solar expansion and assess a future nuclear programme. More clean electricity would also help reduce reliance on coal and its climate and air-pollution impacts.

History

The supplied history shows repeated swings in Zimbabwe’s hydropower generation rather than sustained, steady growth. In the 1980s, declines of about half a TWh in 1982 and 1987 were followed by a 0.7 TWh increase in 1989. The 1990s began with a 1 TWh gain, followed by losses exceeding 1 TWh in both 1991 and 1993, before another 1 TWh gain in 1999. The early 2000s brought strong increases of 0.8 TWh in 2002 and 1.5 TWh in 2003, followed by smaller fluctuations. During the 2010s, the largest setback was a 2 TWh drop in 2016; gains of about 1 TWh in each of 2017 and 2018 were followed by a 0.9 TWh decline in 2019. A substantial 2.1 TWh increase in 2021 was encouraging, although generation fell by 0.4 TWh in 2023. This uneven record reinforces the importance of adding solar, wind and nuclear to achieve sustained growth in clean electricity.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade