BENIN
POWER AFRICA FACT SHEET

Power Africa has supported the development of 127 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation projects in Benin. In addition, various firms have received U.S. Embassy support to move transactions forward. The page below gives an overview of the energy sector in Benin and explains Power Africa's involvement in the country.

BENIN ENERGY SECTOR OVERVIEW


Population: 11.5 million | GDP (1): $10.35 billion

Benin is reliant on biomass and imported petroleum products for 97 percent of its energy demand, with electricity accounting for two percent of net energy consumption.  Thirty-two percent of Benin’s population has access to electric power, with 1.1 TWh of total annual consumption, and an average peak daily load of 180 MW. Through a $375 million compact with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation, combined with an additional $700 million in other donor financing (mainly concessional debt), the Government of Benin (GoB) is building generation assets, pursuing IPP transactions, expanding transmission capacity, and modernizing its distribution network, while expanding access through grid and off-grid connections.  The GoB has demonstrated commitment to power sector reform by installing a management contract to run its national electricity distribution utility, SBEE (Société Béninoise d'Energie Electrique), as well as enacting a new energy code that supports IPP investments.  The GoB has adopted tariff reforms but rate increases are pending.

GENERATION CAPACITY

  • Installed Capacity (2): 343 MW
    • Hydro: 0.51 MW
    • Gas: 20 MW
    • Solar: 0.04 MW
    • Other (Diesel, HFOs): 323 MW

Power Africa new MW to date at finacial close: 127 MW

CONNECTIONS

  • Current Access Rate (3)
    • Urban: 63%
    • Rural: 9%

Power Africa new connections: 358,707

 

 


Sources

  1. https://data.worldbank.org/country/benin 
  2. https://www.africa-energy.com/database/datatool
  3. https://www.iea.org/reports/sdg7-data-and-projections/access-to-electri…