Electrification currently stands at between 36% to 49.3% depending on the source. Either figure is abysmal but understandable considering the country is emerging from a prolonged period of instability, yet even in our worst era we are STILL not in the Top 10 countries with the lowest electrification rates.
In the last 8 years, the installed capacity of Somalia went from 115MW to 344MW in 2021 through small scale plants and a renewable energy contribution of 41MW. All Somalia really needs to achieve a 100% electrification rate are four major power plants, either in the form of traditional or renewable projects placed in the vicinities of Mogadishu, Kismayo, Bosaso and Berbera, each with a 500MW capacity and in turn connected to multiple cities, towns and villages in the country through transmission lines.
This would truly kickstart an economic boom for the average person with the cost of electricity becoming the lowest on the continent (like the Telecom rates) and justify the construction of factories, industrial parks, and transform city life through universities and schools with tech departments (computer classes) and remote options (i.e studying at home without having to worry about the electric bill), bigger malls, hospitals with a dependable stream of electricity, fully powered ports, aesthetic street lights (not the solar monstrosities), eventual adoption of electric vehicles and everything else connected to the national grid, including a potential railway system.
The utilization and potential of solar energy in Somalia: Current state and prospects
“The Somali NDP targets a 6% yearly increase in generating capacity, which was achieved with an increase from 115 to 344 MW (2015 to June 2021), while the current electrification rate is 36% and a target for Somalia to increase up to 1043 MW (2022–2027) and expect electrification rate will increase up to 75%. The Federal Ministry of Planning aims to deliver more than 200 MW of the state’s energy production by RE sources.”
In the last 8 years, the installed capacity of Somalia went from 115MW to 344MW in 2021 through small scale plants and a renewable energy contribution of 41MW. All Somalia really needs to achieve a 100% electrification rate are four major power plants, either in the form of traditional or renewable projects placed in the vicinities of Mogadishu, Kismayo, Bosaso and Berbera, each with a 500MW capacity and in turn connected to multiple cities, towns and villages in the country through transmission lines.
This would truly kickstart an economic boom for the average person with the cost of electricity becoming the lowest on the continent (like the Telecom rates) and justify the construction of factories, industrial parks, and transform city life through universities and schools with tech departments (computer classes) and remote options (i.e studying at home without having to worry about the electric bill), bigger malls, hospitals with a dependable stream of electricity, fully powered ports, aesthetic street lights (not the solar monstrosities), eventual adoption of electric vehicles and everything else connected to the national grid, including a potential railway system.
The utilization and potential of solar energy in Somalia: Current state and prospects
“The Somali NDP targets a 6% yearly increase in generating capacity, which was achieved with an increase from 115 to 344 MW (2015 to June 2021), while the current electrification rate is 36% and a target for Somalia to increase up to 1043 MW (2022–2027) and expect electrification rate will increase up to 75%. The Federal Ministry of Planning aims to deliver more than 200 MW of the state’s energy production by RE sources.”
