Why is a Reliable Electricity Supply Important for a Nation?

Afghanistan: Ongoing conflict and instability have hindered the development of reliable electricity infrastructure in Afghanistan. The country struggles with frequent power outages, and a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity.  > more

Algeria: Despite being a significant exporter of natural gas, Algeria faces power deficits, particularly during periods of high demand in the summer. The country is working on diversifying its energy mix to meet growing domestic demand. > more

Angola: Despite having vast energy resources, including oil, natural gas, and hydroelectric power, Angola faces power shortages due to underdeveloped infrastructure and economic challenges. > more

Bangladesh: Rapid industrialization and urbanization in Bangladesh have led to a surge in power demand that sometimes exceeds the country’s generation capacity. While considerable strides have been made to expand power infrastructure, periodic outages still occur, especially in rural areas. > more

Belize: Belize faces power supply challenges due to its heavy reliance on imported power and the sporadic nature of its domestic power generation, which is heavily dependent on hydropower and biomass. > more

Benin: Benin faces challenges meeting electricity demand, especially in rural areas. Frequent power outages occur due to underdeveloped infrastructure. > more

Bhutan: Despite its hydroelectric power surplus, Bhutan struggles with delivering electricity to its more remote areas, leading to power shortages. > more

Bolivia: Despite rich natural gas resources, Bolivia sometimes experiences power shortages due to a combination of growing demand and infrastructure challenges. > more

Botswana: Despite being rich in coal resources, Botswana faces power shortages due to underdeveloped infrastructure and growing demand. > more

Brunei: Despite being a significant oil and gas producer, Brunei has occasionally faced power shortages due to increased domestic demand and infrastructure challenges. > more

Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso faces power shortages due to underdeveloped infrastructure, fast-growing demand, and reliance on imported electricity. > more

Burundi: Despite having significant hydroelectric potential, Burundi struggles with power shortages due to infrastructure challenges and a fast-growing population. > more

Cambodia: Although Cambodia has made progress in expanding its power infrastructure, it still grapples with power shortages, particularly in rural areas. The country is investing in hydroelectric and coal-fired power plants to meet growing demand. > more

Central African Republic: The ongoing conflict and instability in the Central African Republic have hindered the development of a reliable electricity infrastructure. Power outages are common, and most of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Chad: Chad is one of the least electrified countries in the world. The country’s electricity infrastructure is underdeveloped, leading to frequent power outages and limited access to power, especially in rural areas. > more

Congo (Rep of): The Republic of Congo faces electricity generation and distribution challenges, leading to frequent power outages, particularly in rural areas. > more

Cuba: Economic challenges and outdated infrastructure contribute to occasional power shortages in Cuba. > more

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): The DRC struggles with a significant electricity deficit, particularly given its vast size and the logistical challenges of extending the grid to remote regions. Despite having the potential to generate vast amounts of hydroelectric power, a lack of infrastructure and investment means that a large portion of the population cannot access reliable electricity. > more

Djibouti: Djibouti struggles with an unreliable electricity supply and frequent power outages due to its reliance on imported fossil fuels and underdeveloped infrastructure. > more

El Salvador: Despite having a relatively well-developed power sector, El Salvador occasionally experiences power shortages during periods of high demand. > more

Equitorial Guinea: Despite being a significant oil producer, Equatorial Guinea struggles with power shortages due to a lack of infrastructure and difficulties distributing power across its territory. > more

Eritrea: Eritrea faces power shortages due to a lack of infrastructure investment and issues maintaining its existing power plants. > more

Ethiopia: Despite significant hydroelectric potential, Ethiopia struggles to meet growing electricity demand due to a fast-growing population and underdeveloped infrastructure. > more

Gabon: Gabon is rich in oil and mineral resources, but its electricity sector faces challenges due to ageing infrastructure and rapidly increasing demand. > more

Gambia: The Gambia experiences frequent power outages and struggles to meet its electricity demand due to underdeveloped infrastructure and limited domestic energy resources. > more

Ghana: Despite being one of the more developed countries in West Africa, Ghana has faced power generation issues leading to periodic load shedding, primarily due to infrastructural and financial challenges. > more

Guatemala: Guatemala has a mix of hydroelectric, fossil fuel, and renewable energy sources but still struggles with occasional power shortages due to growing demand and infrastructure challenges. > more

Guinea: Guinea has significant hydropower potential but struggles with an underdeveloped power sector. Frequent power outages occur, and a substantial portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Guinea-Bissau: Despite the significant potential for hydroelectric and solar power, Guinea-Bissau struggles with frequent power outages due to underdeveloped infrastructure. > more

Guyana: Guyana has frequent power outages and struggles with an unreliable electricity supply network, though it is trying to develop its renewable energy infrastructure. > more

Haiti: Haiti is one of the least electrified countries in the world. Frequent natural disasters, economic challenges, and weak governance have contributed to a power sector where demand far outstrips supply. > more

Honduras: Despite having substantial renewable resources, Honduras experiences power shortages due to infrastructure challenges and rapidly growing demand. > more

India: While India has made significant strides in increasing its electricity generation capacity and electrifying rural areas, there are still instances of power deficits, particularly during peak demand periods. > more

Iran: While Iran is rich in energy resources, international sanctions, economic challenges, and high domestic consumption have led to periodic electricity shortages, particularly during peak demand periods. > more

Iraq: Despite being rich in oil reserves, Iraq faces an electricity deficit due to underinvestment, insufficient infrastructure, and political challenges. > more

Kenya: While Kenya has made great strides in expanding its electricity grid and developing geothermal energy, demand sometimes outpaces supply, particularly during periods of drought when hydroelectric power generation is affected. > more

Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyzstan, heavily reliant on hydroelectric power, sometimes experiences power shortages during periods of low water availability. > more

Laos: Despite being a net exporter of electricity due to its substantial hydropower resources, Laos faces domestic electricity shortages due to the uneven distribution of its power grid. > more

Lebanon: Lebanon has faced a severe electricity crisis, with residents often accessing state-provided electricity for only a few hours daily. The deficit is due to a combination of factors, including ageing infrastructure, lack of reforms in the energy sector, and political instability. > more

Lesotho: While exporting significant hydroelectric power to South Africa, Lesotho sometimes experiences domestic power shortages. > more

Liberia: Post-conflict Liberia has struggled to rebuild its power infrastructure, and power outages are common. A significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Libya: The ongoing conflict and instability in Libya have led to a severely damaged infrastructure, including the electricity network. Frequent power outages are common in the country. > more

Madagascar: Despite rich renewable energy potential, particularly in hydroelectric power, Madagascar’s electricity infrastructure is underdeveloped. The country struggles with frequent power outages, and a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Malawi: Malawi faces regular power outages due to a variety of factors, including underinvestment in infrastructure, reliance on hydroelectric power which is susceptible to drought, and a fast-growing population. > more

Maldives: Given its geographical dispersion, providing a stable electricity supply across all islands in the Maldives is a significant challenge. > more

Mali: Mali is rich in solar energy potential but struggles with an underdeveloped power sector. Frequent power outages occur, and a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Mauritania: Mauritania faces power shortages due to a combination of ageing infrastructure and rapidly increasing demand. The country is investing in renewable energy to help meet its future energy needs. > more

Moldova: Moldova is heavily dependent on imported energy and experiences power shortages, particularly during periods of peak demand. > more

Mongolia: Mongolia experiences power shortages due to a combination of ageing infrastructure and rapidly growing demand, particularly in its fast-growing urban areas. > more

Mozambique: Despite significant resources, including hydroelectric power and natural gas, Mozambique experiences power shortages due to a lack of infrastructure and rapidly increasing demand. > more

Myanmar (Burma): Despite rich natural resources, including hydroelectric potential, Myanmar’s power infrastructure is underdeveloped. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to growing electricity demand that often exceeds supply. > more

Namibia: Namibia faces challenges with meeting its electricity demand due to limited domestic generation capacity and a reliance on imports. However, the country is exploring renewable energy options to increase its domestic supply. > more

Nauru: As one of the smallest countries in the world, Nauru struggles with energy independence and often faces electricity supply issues. > more

Nepal: While Nepal has significant hydroelectric potential, issues with infrastructure, investment, and political instability have led to regular load shedding, where power cuts are scheduled to manage the electricity deficit. > more

Nicaragua: While Nicaragua has made strides in developing its renewable energy sector, it still faces power reliability issues due to its ageing grid infrastructure. > more

Niger: Niger has one of the lowest electricity access rates in the world. The country faces significant challenges in expanding its power infrastructure due to its vast desert landscape and sparse population distribution. > more

Nigeria: Despite being Africa’s largest economy and having significant natural gas, hydro and solar resources, Nigeria struggles with a significant energy deficit. The country faces frequent electricity outages and relies heavily on privately-owned generators. > more

North Korea: The secretive state has long struggled with electricity shortages due in part to economic sanctions and a lack of modern, reliable infrastructure. > more

Pakistan: Despite improvements in recent years, Pakistan has faced electricity shortages, particularly during peak usage times in the summer months. This is due to fast-growing demand, insufficient generation capacity, and infrastructure issues. > more

Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea faces significant challenges in delivering electricity across its rugged and remote landscape. Power outages are common, and a large portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Paraguay: Although Paraguay generates a surplus of electricity from hydropower, internal distribution networks are less developed, leading to occasional power shortages. > more

Philippines: While the situation has been improving, the Philippines has historically struggled with meeting electricity demand, particularly during peak usage periods and in more remote areas of the country. > more

Rwanda: Rwanda has made significant progress in expanding its electricity access in recent years, but power outages still occur, particularly in rural areas. > more

Senegal: Senegal has made significant strides in expanding its power infrastructure but still struggles with power outages and irregularities, especially during periods of high demand. > more

Sierra Leone: Despite improvements in recent years, Sierra Leone still struggles with an underdeveloped power sector. The country faces regular power outages, and a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Solomon Islands: The Solomon Islands face significant challenges in providing reliable electricity to their scattered island communities. Power outages are common, and a large portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Somalia: Decades of conflict and instability have left Somalia with a severely underdeveloped power infrastructure. Electricity access is limited, and where it does exist, it is often unreliable and expensive. > more

South Africa: South Africa’s national utility, Eskom, has been unable to meet the country’s electricity demand, leading to regular rolling blackouts known as “load shedding”. This is due to ageing infrastructure, insufficient investment, and operational issues. > more

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka sometimes experiences power shortages, particularly during dry seasons when hydroelectric generation capacity is reduced, and demand exceeds supply. > more

Sudan: Sudan has faced electricity shortages, leading to frequent outages, due to a combination of conflict, economic challenges, and under investment in infrastructure. > more

Suriname: Suriname struggles with power shortages due to its reliance on hydroelectric power, which can be affected by seasonal variations in water levels. > more

Swaziland (Eswatini): Eswatini experiences electricity shortages, particularly during peak demand. > more

Syria: The ongoing conflict in Syria has devastated the country’s infrastructure, leading to a significant electricity deficit. > more

Tajikistan: Although Tajikistan has substantial hydropower resources, it experiences electricity shortages, particularly in winter when water levels are low. > more

Tanzania: Tanzania faces power shortages due to a combination of infrastructure challenges, rapidly increasing demand, and dependency on hydroelectric power, which can be unreliable during periods of drought. > more

Timor-Leste (East Timor): Timor-Leste faces significant power generation and distribution challenges due to its underdeveloped infrastructure and remote, mountainous terrain. > more

Togo: Despite efforts to expand electricity access, Togo struggles with frequent power outages, and a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity. > more

Turkmenistan: Despite having one of the largest natural gas reserves globally, Turkmenistan faces occasional power shortages due to infrastructure and maintenance issues. > more

Uganda: Despite significant renewable energy resources, particularly hydropower and solar, Uganda’s electricity generation capacity is still developing. Power outages are common, and many rural areas lack access to the grid. > more

Venezuela: Political instability, under investment, and operational issues have led to a severe electricity crisis in Venezuela, with regular and prolonged power outages. > more

Yemen: Ongoing conflict and political instability have devastated the country’s infrastructure, leading to chronic electricity shortages and frequent outages. > more

Zambia: Zambia, although rich in hydroelectric potential, faces power shortages due to a combination of droughts, which reduce its hydroelectric power generation, and growing demand. > more

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe faces frequent power outages due to ageing infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and economic challenges. > more