Global GridBenin's energy mix and electricity
🇧🇯 In 2024, Benin generated 1.01 TWh of electricity. The largest source was gas at 72%, followed by oil and other fossil fuels (24%) and solar (4%). In total, 4% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 96% from fossil fuels.
On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 584 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), above the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes Benin the 120th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Electricity demand was 2.31 TWh. Benin imported 1.30 TWh more electricity than it exported, equal to 56% of its demand.
Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 1,163%, from 0.08 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 0% to 4%. The biggest rise was in gas, from 0% to 72% of generation. The biggest fall was in oil and other fossil fuels, from 100% to 24%. Carbon intensity fell from 625 to 584 grams per kWh.
Live, hour-by-hour figures for Benin are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.
Energy mix in 2024
- Gas 72%
- Oil and other fossil fuels 24%
- Solar 4%
| Source | Share | Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 72% | 0.73 TWh |
| Oil and other fossil fuels | 24% | 0.24 TWh |
| Solar | 4% | 0.04 TWh |
Energy security score
Vulnerable. Benin ranks 158th of 158 countries and 35th of 35 in Africa. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted. It is based on 4 of the 5 measures.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Produces its own energy No reliable figure exists for Benin, so this measure is left out and the other four count for more. | n/a |
| Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, gas, made 72%. | 47 |
| Little reliance on imported power Net imports were 56% of demand; each 1% takes off 2 points. | 0 |
| Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 4% of generation. | 4 |
| Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 96% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share. | 4 |
The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.
Oil and gas pipelines
Global Energy Monitor lists 3,214 km of oil and gas pipelines operating in Benin, 0 km being built and 6,889 km proposed (lengths measured along the mapped routes; a pipeline crossing borders counts in full for each country).
See them on the interactive map · Pipelines around the world
How it has changed
| Year | Generated | Low-carbon | Fossil | CO₂ g/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.08 TWh | 0% | 100% | 625 |
| 2005 | 0.11 TWh | 0% | 100% | 636 |
| 2010 | 0.11 TWh | 0% | 100% | 636 |
| 2015 | 0.32 TWh | 0% | 100% | 625 |
| 2020 | 0.99 TWh | 1% | 99% | 596 |
| 2023 | 1.00 TWh | 3% | 97% | 590 |
| 2024 | 1.01 TWh | 4% | 96% | 584 |
Questions about Benin's energy
What is Benin's energy mix?
In 2024, Benin's electricity came from gas 72%, oil and other fossil fuels 24% and solar 4%.
How much of Benin's electricity is renewable?
4% of its electricity came from renewables in 2024 (solar 4%).
What is Benin's main source of electricity?
Gas, which made 72% of its electricity in 2024.
How clean is Benin's electricity?
About 584 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2024, above the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 120th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Does Benin import electricity?
Yes: in 2024 it imported 1.30 TWh more than it exported, 56% of its demand.
How secure is Benin's energy supply?
Global Grid's energy security score for Benin is 15 out of 100 (vulnerable), 158th of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.
Other countries in Africa
Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2024; pipelines and LNG terminals from Global Energy Monitor's Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker (June 2026 release) and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (November 2025 release) (CC BY 4.0). Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).