In Madagascar, the current state of electricity consumption reveals a scenario where fossil fuels continue to play a significant role. In 2022, the country generated 1.71 TWh of electricity from fossil sources. The low-carbon, or clean energy contribution, is relatively minimal in comparison. With total consumption amounting to just 87 kWh per person, more than half of the generation is based on fossil fuels. Compared to the global average of 3794 kWh per person, Madagascar's electricity consumption is quite low, indicating potential issues such as limited access to reliable electricity, which can hinder socio-economic development and efforts to modernize essential services like health care and education. Furthermore, reliance on fossil fuels contributes to air pollution and climate change, underscoring the need for a transition to greener energy sources.

Is Electricity Growing in Madagascar?

While there might have been hopes for growth, electricity consumption in Madagascar has shown a slight decline, from a previous record of 88 kWh per person in 2019 to 87 kWh per person in 2022. This downturn also extends to the country's low-carbon electricity; once peaking at 38 kWh per person in 2015, it had reduced to 31 kWh per person by 2022. Such regression is troubling, as sustainable electricity remains crucial for future growth and development. The stagnation and reduction signal challenges in scaling up clean electricity generation capabilities, with Madagascar struggling to boost its share of low-carbon electricity amidst existing barriers.

Suggestions

To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, Madagascar can look to regions that have successfully harnessed solar and nuclear energy. For instance, embracing solar technology as India and Brazil have done could be highly beneficial, considering their success in generating 192 TWh and 85 TWh, respectively, from solar power. Alternatively, the country could follow the example of nuclear power pioneers like France and the United States, which produce significant electricity from nuclear energy at 379 TWh and 792 TWh, respectively. Making strategic investments in solar and nuclear power could boost Madagascar’s green energy portfolio, providing a sustainable path toward meeting both current demands and future needs.

History

The historical trajectory of low-carbon electricity generation in Madagascar has predominantly revolved around hydropower. Since the early 1980s, increments in hydroelectricity have been sporadic, with marginal increases observed over the years, and little to no significant growth after 2018. However, a slight advancement was noted in 2018, when hydro generation saw a one-time increase of 0.2 TWh. In the past few years, hydropower generation has largely stagnated, with no change reported from 2021 and only a minor addition of solar capacity in 2022. These trends highlight a pressing need for Madagascar to scale up its low-carbon electricity generation significantly, capitalizing on solar and potentially exploring nuclear power, following the leads of other successful regions.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade