Africa’s Top Energy Consumers, Net Exporters

October 28, 2014 Editor Business, Energy

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VENTURES AFRICA – In a continent desperately needing an aggressive energy plan, it is worth identifying the top consumers and producers of the continent’s energy.
Four southern African countries, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), are reported to account for the highest electricity consumption in Africa. South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe are the continent’s top consumers.
“In Southern Africa, average consumption per capita is the highest of all sub-regions, but this is driven principally by very high levels in South Africa and relatively high levels in Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe – all above 500 kWh per capita per year,” said International Energy Agency in a in the report on Sub-Saharan energy prospects.
South Africa’s inclusion is not surprising, giving its vastly developed and industrial economy. The country produces over 40,000MW of electricity, the highest by any African country. In contrast, Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and
most populated nation, was absent in this category. Giving its enormous population and a rapidly growing economy – an average of 7 percent annually, which places at the helm of the growth markets list – demand, and subsequently consumption, was expected to top the African chart.
But poor infrastructure and neglect have done little to offset the poor demand:Supply ratio. Nigeria still produces an average of 2,500MW to 3000MW for a population almost four times the size of its closest economic rival South Africa.
The IEA report says the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Mozambique are the largest net exporters of electricity, each developing large hydropower projects for the purpose, while South Africa (net imports meet 5 percent of demand in 2040), Nigeria (the second-largest importer, after South Africa) and some other parts of Southern Africa are the main net importers.
It added that Sub-Saharan Africa has an estimated 43 million television sets (equivalent to about one in every four households), 17 million refrigerators (around one in every ten households) and 450 million mobile phones – about one for every two people. Ownership of mobile phones in sub-Saharan Africa has risen at a brisk pace and provides access to multiple services, such as personal and business communications and online banking, for relatively low electricity consumption.
Total residential electricity demand in the sub-Saharan region will grow by 6 percent per year to 2040, with increasing and more reliable supply, and rising incomes funding the purchase of more appliances.

By George Mpofu