Equatorial Guinea
GNQEquatorial Guinea gets next to none of its electricity from oil, in a region built on it.
47% of grids in Africa draw more than a tenth of their power from oil.
What this grid depends on
Three measures that say more about a country than how much power it makes. Open “what this means” on any of them if the term is new.
Among the most carbon-heavy electricity anywhere.
What this means
How much planet-warming gas is released to make one unit of electricity. Two countries can generate exactly the same amount and one of them be ten times dirtier doing it. Lower is better.
Equatorial Guinea generates almost exactly what it uses, with next to nothing crossing its borders.
What this means
Electricity can be sold across a border like anything else, through high-voltage lines connecting one country's grid to the next. Buying it in means leaning on a neighbour to keep the lights on. Selling it means generating more than the country needs.
Also true of Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea has about as many people as Slovenia, and 9 times less electricity to share between them.
1.9 million people against 2.1 million, but 787 kWh per person a year against 7,010.
Equatorial Guinea has cleaned up its grid faster than most people realise.
Low-carbon electricity went from 11% to 27% in 20 years.
Equatorial Guinea’s neighbours
GabonGas overtook hydro on Gabon's grid in 2023.
CameroonCameroon has about as many people as Australia, and 43 times less electricity to share between them.
Congothe Congo's grid has been getting dirtier, not cleaner.
NigeriaNigeria has about as many people as Brazil, and 20 times less electricity to share between them.
BeninGas overtook oil on Benin's grid in 2019.
Figures are for 2024, the most recent year reported for Equatorial Guinea. Generation shares are a percentage of electricity generated, not of energy used. How this is calculated.