Lifestyle
African countries and the year they started using electricity — Nigeria is 4th
By Jide Taiwo
Electricity is all around us, powering our lights, appliances, and even our bodies! But what exactly is it?
Basically, electricity is the flow of tiny charged particles called electrons. These electrons move through wires or other conductors when there’s a potential difference, which we call voltage.
This flow of electrons is what creates an electric current, which in turn can be used to do a whole bunch of things, like generating light or heat.
While electricity has become a vital part of any nation’s infrastructure, some places across the world still lack efficient power supply.
Below are the years African countries started using electricity:
1. South Africa – 1860
In South Africa, approximately 85 percent, or 42,000MW, of the nation’s electricity is generated via coal-fired power stations. The country produced around 245,000 GWh of electricity in 2021.
Meanwhile, electricity was first used in South Africa on April 25, 1860, with the opening of the electric telegraph line between Cape Town and Simon’s Town.
2. Kenya – 1875
Approximately 90 percent of the electricity generation in Kenya is derived from renewable sources in 2022.
Most of the renewable electricity generated came from geothermal and hydropower. Both sources counted 8.5 terawatt hours in 2020, whereas solar and wind registered 0.1 and 1.2 terawatt hours, respectively.
Kenya’s current effective installed (grid-connected) electricity capacity is 2,651 megawatts (MW), with a peak demand of 1,912 MW, as of November 2019.
Electricity was first introduced in Kenya in 1875 when Seyyied Barghash, the Sultan of Zanzibar, acquired a generator to light his palace and nearby streets.
3. Egypt – 1893
The majority of Egypt’s electricity supply is generated from thermal and hydropower stations. Electricity generation in Egypt reached 18,136 GW in June 2018, according to the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC).
As of 2010, every resident in Egypt has access to electricity. Meanwhile, electricity was introduced in Egypt in 1893. Generation and distribution were privatized for about 70 years, until nationalisation took place in 1962
4. Nigeria – 1896
Fossil fuels, notably gas are the major source of electricity generation in Nigeria, about 86 percent.
It has the potential to generate 12,522 MW of electric power from existing plants. Electricity supply was 5,852 (Gwh) in Q1 2023.
Meanwhile, electricity generation in Nigeria began in Lagos in 1886 with the use of generators to provide 60 kW.
5. Zimbabwe – 1897
6. Ethiopia – 1898
7. Mauritius – 1899
8. Tunisia – 1902
9. Zambia – 1906
10. Uganda – 1906
11. Tanzania – 1908
12. Morocco – 1914
13. Ghana – 1914
14. Togo – 1926
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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