Bite-sized Insights about
 
Providing you with data-based insights about things happening around you.
Lagos alone consumes 26% of the total supply of power from the national grid
  • Lagos receives the highest average monthly grid supply at 1,051 MW, accounting for 26% of national distribution.
  • The South West (excluding Lagos) comes second with 569 MW.
  • Abuja alone receives 435 MW, higher than the North Central zone at 396 MW.
  • The North East receives the least electricity from the grid, with only 199 MW monthly on average.
  • The combined total for Lagos and the rest of the South West is 1,620 MW, roughly 40% of national grid supply.

Despite raising renewable energy capacity to 70 GW, Africa's share of the global total is declining
  • Africa’s renewable energy capacity more than doubled between 2015 (34.6 GW) and 2024 (70 GW).
  • Despite this growth, Africa’s global share fell from 1.87% in 2015 to 1.57% in 2024.
  • The decline in global share highlights that other regions are expanding renewable energy capacity much faster than Africa.
  • Between 2020 and 2024 alone, Africa added 18.5 GW of renewable energy capacity.
  • The sharpest annual increase occurred between 2022 and 2023, with capacity rising by 6.4 GW.
  • The percentage share of global renewable energy for Africa has consistently trended downward since 2018.
  • Africa’s renewable energy growth, while positive, is not yet keeping pace with the global energy transition.

Asia's renewable energy capacity grew by 21.1% to 2,374 GW in 2024, the highest among regions
  • Asia added 413 GW in one year, marking the most significant renewable energy expansion globally.
  • Asia’s 2024 renewable capacity is larger than the combined totals of all other regions indicated.
  • Europe reached 850 GW of installed capacity in 2024, consolidating its position as the second-largest renewable energy region.
  • North America’s renewable energy grew by 8.7% to 572 GW.
  • Oceania recorded a 12.9% growth rate, one of the highest relative increases despite its small base.
  • The Middle East achieved 10.8% growth, reflecting increased investments in solar and wind energy.
  • Africa’s renewable energy grew modestly to 70 GW.
  • Central America & the Caribbean recorded no growth, staying at 19 GW, making it the only stagnant region in 2024.

The US remained the dominant producer of bio-diesel, with 15.25 million metric tons produced in 2023
  • Only 37 countries produced bio-diesel in 2023.
  • No African country produced bio-diesel.
  • The US remained the dominant producer of bio-diesel with 15.25 million metric tons produced in 2023, which is 36% of the total quantity produced globally.
  • Germany was the top exporter of bio diesel with 2.18 million metric tons.

In the last one year, petrol prices in Nigeria fluctuated, reaching the maximum average price (₦1,262) in March 2025, before dropping gradually
  • Petrol prices in Nigeria rose by 52% between August 2024 (₦830.5) and March 2025 (₦1,261.7).
  • The highest monthly increase was in September 2024 (+24.1%), while the sharpest drop came in April 2025 (-17.1%).
  • By July 2025, prices had eased to ₦1,025, still 23% higher than a year earlier.
  • NNPC retail outlets offered significantly lower prices than the national average, with Abuja as low as ₦880 at the March 2025 peak.
  • Dangote Refinery offered relatively competitive pricing, ranging from ₦840 to ₦899, creating an alternative supply option.

The United States led global natural gas production in 2024, with Algeria, Egypt, and Nigeria appearing in the top 20
  • The United States dominates global natural gas production in 2024, contributing 1.03 trillion cubic metres (Tcm), nearly one-quarter of the world’s total.

  • Russia (0.63Tcm) and Iran (0.26Tcm) follow as the second and third largest producers.

  • China (0.25Tcm) and Canada (0.19Tcm) also feature strongly, rounding out the top five producers.

  • Collectively, these top five countries account for more than 50% of global production.

  • Emerging producers like Nigeria, Egypt, and Azerbaijan contribute significantly to the supply but remain far behind the leading nations.

South Africa, the only African country producing black liquor, recorded 16.4 PJ of energy content in 2023 — approximately 1% of the global total
  • The United States of America led the production of black liquor with 696.0PJ produced making up 38.9% of the global total produced in 2023.
  • South Africa is the only African country producing black liquor with 16.4PJ produced making up 1% of the global total.
  • The total amount of black liquor produced globally in 2023 was 1,787PJ.
  • Sweden, Canada, Finland and Japan produced 185.1PJ - 10.4%, 157.9PJ - 8.8%, 142.5PJ - 8.0% and 133.0PJ - 7.4% respectively.

DR Congo was Africa's highest charcoal producer in 2023, with charcoal output containing 274.62 PJ of energy
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo is the highest charcoal-producing country in Africa with 274.62PJ (petajoules) of charcoal produced in 2023.
  • Nigeria is the ninth country on the list, with 43.76PJ.
  • The total amount of charcoal produced in Africa in 2023 was 1,367.26PJ.
  • Africa claims 69.2% of the total quantity of charcoal produced globally.

Six African countries have achieved full electricity access, with four being from North Africa
  • The highest-ranked countries have managed to provide electricity to every single citizen.
  • Four of the six countries with 100% access are from North Africa.
  • The list isn't a continuous climb; there's a big jump down from the 100% group to the rest of the top 15.
  • The data shows that with the right investment and policies, it is a very realistic goal for a country to achieve full electrification.

14 African countries have less than 50% of their population with electricity
  • The low access rates in nations like South Sudan and the Central African Republic are often linked to conflict and instability.
  • Fourteen countries on the continent have less than 50% of their population with electricity.
  • At the very bottom of the list, South Sudan has a 5.40% access rate, while Burundi stands at 11.60% and Chad at 12.00%.
  • Twelve African countries have less than 40% access.


Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please fill the form below
Contact Form Demo
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form

A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved