Half of sub-Saharan Africa relies more on generators than grid - Semafor

Half of all countries in sub-Saharan Africa are relying more on diesel generators than on grid power, according to analysis from Energy for Growth, leaving countries with less reliable energy infrastructure particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Iran war.

The continent’s dependence on diesel has emerged as a coping mechanism to a persistent shortfall in grid-supplied electricity. But while diesel generators provide more reliable energy, their dependence on imported fuel leaves consumers at the mercy of volatile global pricing.

Africa’s diesel generator fleet is far larger than previously captured by official power data, according to the research, amounting to about 63% of the continent’s grid-connected generation capacity. Outside North Africa and South Africa, diesel capacity is even more dominant, with 26 sub-Saharan markets estimated to have more diesel generation capacity than grid power, leaving businesses and households heavily exposed to fuel costs and supply disruptions.