ECOWAS Countries on Track to Achieve Universal Access to Electricity by 2030
In 2021, countries such as Cape Verde (91%), Côte d'Ivoire (85%), Ghana (84%), and Senegal (76%) are among those that could achieve this goal by 2030, according to the "ECOWAS Energy Outlook".
Despite a positive trend, the growth of access to electricity in the region remains moderate. According to EcoFin agency, between 2010 and 2021, the electrification rate of households in ECOWAS progressed from 41% to 56%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.9%.
However, this trend suggests that the access rate will only reach 75% by 2030, pushing back the goal of universal access by an additional decade.
This dynamic is set against a backdrop of rapidly increasing energy demand. The ECOWAS region, whose population is expected to reach 800 million by 2050, is facing growing electricity consumption: 21.3 GW in 2022, compared to 15.3 GW in 2018, with projections of 26.8 GW for 2025. The exploitation of gas and oil resources, as well as renewable energies, are strategic options to strengthen electrification.
For ECOWAS, achieving universal access to electricity requires an approach that integrates sustainability and energy innovation, thereby supporting resilient and equitable development in the region.
