Why is Benin reliant on electricity imports?

Benin is reliant on electricity imports for a significant share of its energy supply. Reform programmes, including plans for electrification, have been put in place in the country, where only 30% of the population had access to electricity in 2017.

What is the energy mix in Benin?

Energy in Benin has a diverse energy mix and takes several forms including: solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, fossil resources, and mineral resources. Out of this energy mix, about 60% of energy comes from biomass. Benin is also dependent on energy imports from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

Does Benin have energy resources?

While Benin has many energy resources, it lacks the infrastructure both to convert these resources into electricity and to transport the electricity throughout the country. Energy resources in Benin and most Western African countries are not evenly distributed.

How much electricity does Benin need?

Benin belongs to several institutions like West Africa (WA), the African Union (AU), the World Trade Organization (WTO), ECOWAS, and WAEMU, and has a total installed energy capacity at 349 MW, with estimated electricity needs at 600 MW, given rapidly growing electricity demand, according to the West African Development Bank (BOAD, 2019) .

Where does Benin get its electricity from?

Benin imports some of its electricity from Nigeria through the CEB-NEPA Power Interconnection, commissioned in 2007. There is a disparity of access between urban and rural citizens. In 2010, around 34.2% of the population had access to electricity.

How much biomass does Benin use?

It is worth noting that final energy consumption using biomass in Benin was 46.3%, or 49.3% that of Mali's final biomass energy consumption (4175.8 ktoe), and that of Burkina Faso's (3915.4 ktoe).