Electricity in Eritrea in 2023
In 2023, the state of electricity consumption in Eritrea is quite modest, with each person using only about 127 kWh annually. This places Eritrea's consumption significantly below the global average of 3781 kWh per person. The small figure reveals that energy access remains limited, and the majority of Eritrea's population likely lacks adequate access to reliable electricity. Fossil energy dominates the energy mix, while low-carbon energy sources contribute more than a tenth of this consumption. The limited generation capacity affects the country's socio-economic development, restricting opportunities for industrial growth, education, and healthcare improvements.
Is Electricity Growing in Eritrea?
Currently, Eritrea's electricity consumption is not growing; according to the latest figures, there has been a decline since its peak of 155 kWh/person in 2018. The latest figures show a decrease of 29 kWh in comparison to this historic record. Low-carbon electricity, which peaked at 15 kWh/person in 2019, has also seen a slight decline to 14 kWh/person. This stagnation is concerning, as it indicates a potential shortfall in the expansion of energy infrastructure needed to support development goals. As worldwide trends emphasize the shift towards clean energy, Eritrea's reliance on non-renewable and low levels of clean energy generation could be problematic.
Suggestions
To enhance low-carbon electricity options, Eritrea can focus on expanding its solar energy infrastructure, given the existing foundations in this sector. Learning from regions such as India, which generates around 150 TWh from solar, could provide valuable insights. Leveraging similar approaches, Eritrea can boost its solar productivity by investing in solar farms and technology upgrades. Furthermore, the diversity of low-carbon sources used globally, such as nuclear power in countries like France and the United States, highlights opportunities for Eritrea to consider introducing nuclear energy as a part of its expansion strategy. Emulating these successful regions could provide a structured pathway to significantly improving Eritrea's energy generation capabilities.
History
Historically, Eritrea's journey towards low-carbon electricity generation has been very limited. Since the late 1990s and through the early 2000s, both solar and wind energy saw no measurable increase. This pattern continued into the 2010s, displaying a consistent absence of growth in clean energy output. The stagnation in low-carbon electricity generation over these decades presents a significant missed opportunity for diversifying and securing Eretria’s energy future. As global shifts prioritize low-carbon approaches, particularly in light of climate change concerns, the importance of adopting effective clean energy strategies in Eritrea becomes increasingly critical. By leveraging low-carbon technologies, Eritrea can make meaningful strides in tune with global energy trends.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.