African countries focusing on improving socioeconomic growth and industrialization usually set aside a considerable budget for power.
Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia are the three African countries with 100 per cent national electricity access for rural and urban populations.
However, the electrical bill is cheaper in some countries. It is most expensive in Cape Verde, where it costs around 0.29 U.S. dollars, according to Statista.
Below are the African countries with the cheapest cost of electricity;
1. Sudan
Sudan has one of the largest power systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The country has two main sources of energy are hydro-energy and thermal generation, with a current capacity of 3.5 gigawatts divided by rates of approximately 50 per cent for each category.
It has the lowest household electricity price in Africa at $0.004 per kilowatt hour.
2. Libya
Libya generates 34,244,680 MWh of electricity as of 2016 (covering 125% of its annual consumption needs).
The household electricity price in Libya is $0.004 per kilowatt hour.
3. Ethiopia
Electricity was introduced to the imperial palace in Ethiopia in 1889 (Ethiopian calendar).
Ethiopia generates 11,146,860 MWh of electricity as of 2016 (covering 123% of its annual consumption needs).
Its households pay $0.01 per kilowatt hour of electricity consumed.
4. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has one hydropower plant and four coal-fired generators that produce a total combined capacity of 2,240 megawatts (MW). Only 79.9% of the population have access to electricity.
Its households pay $0.01 per kilowatt hour of electricity consumed.
5. Angola
A major oil-exporting country and OPEC member, Angola is sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest economy.
Angola’s current installed capacity is estimated at 5.6 GW but only 4.5 GW is available. The country’s current energy mix consists of 68 percent hydropower, 31.3 percent other fossil fuels and 0.7 Hybrid (solar/fossil fuel).
Angolan households pay $0.03 per kilowatt hour of electricity.
6. Algeria
Algeria generates 66,891,220 MWh of electricity as of 2016 (covering 120% of its annual consumption needs).
The nation currently generates a relatively small amount of its electricity (e.g., three percent or 686 MW annually), from renewable sources, including solar (448 MW), hydro (228 MW), and wind (10 MW).
In Algeria, households pay $0.04 per kilowatt hour.
7. Egypt
Egypt generates 183,475,540 MWh of electricity as of 2016 (covering 115% of its annual consumption needs).
Egypt is working on increasing the supply of electricity generated from renewable sources to 20% by 2022 and 42% by 2035.
Its households also pay $0.04 per kilowatt hour.
8. Ghana
Hydro generation, as well as thermal generation fueled by crude oil, natural gas, and diesel, are the main sources of Ghana’s power supply.
Ghana also exports power to Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
It currently has over 5,300 MW of installed generation capacity, though actual availability rarely exceeds 2,400 MW due to changing hydrological conditions, inadequate fuel supplies and dilapidated infrastructure.
Ghanaian households pay $0.05 per kilowatt hour they consume.
9. Nigeria
Electricity generation started in Nigeria in 1896 but the first electric utility company, known as the Nigerian Electricity Supply Company, was established in 1929.
Nigeria has a total installed power generation capacity of 16,384MW. Power generation in Nigeria is mainly from hydro and gas-fired thermal power plants, with the hydro plants providing 2,062MW and the gas-fired 11,972MW.
Solar, wind, and other sources such as diesel and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) constitute the remainder with 2,350MW.
Households in Nigeria pay $0.06 per kilowatt hour of electricity.
10. Tunisia
Tunisia’s power sector is well-developed, and nearly the entire population enjoys access to the national electricity grid.
It has a current power production capacity of 5,653 megawatts (MW) installed in 25 power plants, which produced 20,086 gigawatt hours in 2021.
Tunisian households pay $0.07 per kilowatt hour.
