Madagascar Energy Situation - Revision history

Lisafeldmann at 06:43, 17 September 2025

2025-09-17T06:43:41Z

Lisafeldmann at 10:55, 5 June 2025

2025-06-05T10:55:12Z

Lisafeldmann at 10:40, 5 June 2025

2025-06-05T10:40:21Z

Lisafeldmann at 09:31, 5 June 2025

2025-06-05T09:31:26Z

Lisafeldmann at 09:25, 5 June 2025

2025-06-05T09:25:05Z

Lisafeldmann at 15:48, 1 April 2025

2025-04-01T15:48:47Z

Lisafeldmann at 15:47, 1 April 2025

2025-04-01T15:47:40Z

Lisafeldmann: /* Electricity Generation */

2025-04-01T15:45:14Z

Electricity Generation

Lisafeldmann at 15:43, 1 April 2025

2025-04-01T15:43:32Z

Lisafeldmann: /* Introduction */

2025-04-01T15:37:31Z

Introduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:43, 17 September 2025
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	*USAID Power Africa: [https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/MadagascarPACFSDEC2017.508.pdf Madagascar Factsheet]		*USAID Power Africa: [https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/MadagascarPACFSDEC2017.508.pdf Madagascar Factsheet]
		+	*Compilation of different resources about [https://www.pseau.org/outils/biblio/document_resultat.php?pgmpseau_id=77&l=fr&pay_pays_iso%5b%5d=MG&liste_courte_avec_resume=1&vuepp=1&vue_public_o_intranet=1 energy issues in Madagascar], mostly in French. Compiled by [https://www.linkedin.com/company/reseau-cicle/posts/?feedView=all Réseau Cicle] (Coopération internationale Climat et Energie).

	<br/>		<br/>

@@ Line 60: / Line 60: @@
 === Cooking ===
-percent Malagasy households are heavily reliant on biomass for cooking, with firewood being the predominant fuel source (64%), as well as charcoal (35%).
+percent Malagasy households are heavily reliant on biomass for cooking, with firewood being the predominant fuel source (64%), as well as charcoal (35%). In general, people who have a higher income, are formally employed, live in urban areas or are higher educated, use more charcoal than firewood. For instance, 78 percent of adults in urban areas versus only 19 percent in rural areas use charcoal, and 75 percent of those with vocational training or a tertiary education versus only 12 percent of those with no education.<ref name=":6" /> Most of the biomass is burnt in traditional stoves. Clean cooking technologies and fuels are used by only 1.5% of the population<ref name=":3" />, with 1.5% of urban adults using electricity and 2% using gas for cooking.<ref name=":6" />
-=== Cooking ===
+=== Household Expenditure on Energy ===
 There is little information on household expenditure for energy, but the following two publications report concrete numbers:
-=== Household Expenditure on Energy ===
+According to UNDP/UNCDF, people in Madagascar spend USD 626 million annually on all energy sources. Of this spending, 38% is spent on electricity. 58% is spent on other energy sources such as charcoal, oil or candles and the remaining 4% is spent on gas.<ref name=":6">UNDP/UNCDF (2020). [https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/UNDP-UNCDF-Madagascar-Energy-and-the-Poor.pdf Madagascar. Energy and the poor. Unpacking the investment case for off-grid cleaner energy.]</ref>
 According to a study commissioned by the World Bank, the average monthly energy expenditure in Madagascar is approximately 15,249 MGA (USD 4.70), or USD 1.08 per week. In rural areas, monthly spending is lower at 11,000 MGA a month (USD 3.40). On average, about 35% of the population are “sometimes” and 31% “frequently” unable to afford to buy the energy source they currently use.<ref name=":5" />
@@ Line 77: / Line 76: @@
 ''- to be updated -''
-More than 80% of the population (total of 20 Mio people) live in rural areas which signifies an untypically low level of urbanisation in the African context. The increase of urbanisation is equally low.<br/>Only 7% of the rural population have access to electricity.<ref name=":1" /> Those, who have access, get their energy mainly from diesel power plants in isolated small or mini grids. The power plants usually only work for a few hours in the evening and prices per kWh are high (about 55 €cents/kWh). While there were initially exclusively diesel-run electrification schemes, the sector has since 2007 shifted towards renewable energy projects with by now about 9 small hydropower-plants, 5 wind power plants and 1 biomass plant running village electrification schemes (In addition there are a few older plants and a few plants implemented by NGOs on the basis of renewable energies). Solar power is up to now only used for the electrification of some social infrastructure (including public lighting) and for single households mainly in the form of pico-solar-systems.<br/>
+While there were initially exclusively diesel-run electrification schemes, the sector has since 2007 shifted towards renewable energy projects with by now about 9 small hydropower-plants, 5 wind power plants and 1 biomass plant running village electrification schemes (In addition there are a few older plants and a few plants implemented by NGOs on the basis of renewable energies). Solar power is up to now only used for the electrification of some social infrastructure (including public lighting) and for single households mainly in the form of pico-solar-systems.<br/>
 [[Madagascar Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 Total electricity consumption per capita in Madagascar was 0.084 MW/h in 2022. The share of electricity in final consumption was 3%, with industry (39%) and residential (29%) sectors consuming the most.<ref name=":3" />
-== Energy Demand and Supply in the Household Sector ==
+== Energy Supply and Demand in the Household Sector ==
 For households all over the country, but especially in rural areas firewood and charcoal for heating and cooking, and kerosene and candles for lighting are the most important energy sources. Only about 7% of the rural population currently have access to electricity, which shows a large discrepancy compared to the urban areas where close to 60% of the households have access to electricity.<ref name=":1" />
-Rural households spend on average 70€ per month, whereof about 11% or 8€ for lighting and batteries (radios, torches) and 5% or 3.5€ for cooking.<br/>
+=== Lighting ===
 <br />

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 [[Madagascar Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]
-=== Electricity Generation ===
+=== Electricity Generation and Consumption ===
 The installed capacity of electricity production in Madagascar accounts for under 800 MW, against a peak load of 680MW. The country faces system losses of 31% due to aging infrastructure.<ref name=":1" />
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 The rest of the electrified cities and villages rely on isolated small and mini grids (approx. 130 in 2020), mainly running on diesel.<ref name=":4" />
 == Energy Demand and Supply in the Household Sector ==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Only 1.5% of the population has access to clean cooking technologies and fuels.<ref name=":3">IEA, 2022, [https://www.iea.org/countries/madagascar Madagascar].</ref>
-In 2022, 85% of Madagascar's total energy supply derived from bioenergy, followed by oil (11%), coal (2.5%) and hydro (1%).<ref name=":3" />
+=== Total Energy Supply and Total Energy Consumption ===
-Madagascar’s energy balance shows that about 80% of its overall energy consumption is based on biomass (mainly firewood 68%, charcoal 10% and other biomass 2%), 17% on petrol (transport), 2% on electricity (hydropower and diesel power plants) and 1% on coal.<ref>UNIDO, 2023, [https://downloads.unido.org/ot/32/02/32024446/Evaluation&#x20;report&#x20;on&#x20;Increased&#x20;energy&#x20;access&#x20;for&#x20;productive&#x20;use&#x20;through&#x20;small&#x20;hydropower&#x20;development&#x20;in&#x20;rural&#x20;areas&#x20;in&#x20;Madagascar.pdf TE: Increased Energy Access for Productive Uses Through the Development of Small Hydropower in Rural Areas in Madagascar UNIDO Project 120094, GEF ID: 5317]</ref>
+Until today crude oil / petroleum products are all imported.<ref name=":3" /> Even though Madagascar has oil in place the oilfields are not being exploited yet. 14.5% of total energy supply were net imports of fossil fuels.<ref name=":3" />
-Until today crude oil / petroleum products are all imported.<ref name=":3" /> Even though Madagascar has oil in place the oilfields are not being exploited yet.
 [[Madagascar Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]
-== Electricity Generation ==
+=== Electricity Generation ===
 The installed capacity of electricity production in Madagascar accounts for under 800 MW, against a peak load of 680MW. The country faces system losses of 31% due to aging infrastructure.<ref name=":1" />
@@ Line 36: / Line 50: @@
 == Energy Demand and Supply in the Household Sector ==
-''- to be updated -''
+For households all over the country, but especially in rural areas firewood and charcoal for heating and cooking, and kerosene and candles for lighting are the most important energy sources. Only about 7% of the rural population currently have access to electricity, which shows a large discrepancy compared to the urban areas where close to 60% of the households have access to electricity.<ref name=":1" />
-For households all over the country, but especially in rural areas firewood and charcoal for heating and cooking, and kerosene and candles for lighting are the most important energy sources. Rural households spend on average 70€ per month, whereof about 11% or 8€ for lighting and batteries (radios, torches) and 5% or 3.5€ for cooking.<br/>Only about 5% of the rural population currently have access to electricity, which shows a large discrepancy compared to the urban areas where more than 60% of the households have access to electricity. The per capita consumption of electricity is at a low level per capita.<br/>
+<br />
 [[Madagascar Energy Situation#toc|►Go to Top]]

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 == Energy Demand and Supply in the Household Sector ==
-- to be updated -
+''- to be updated -''
 For households all over the country, but especially in rural areas firewood and charcoal for heating and cooking, and kerosene and candles for lighting are the most important energy sources. Rural households spend on average 70€ per month, whereof about 11% or 8€ for lighting and batteries (radios, torches) and 5% or 3.5€ for cooking.<br/>Only about 5% of the rural population currently have access to electricity, which shows a large discrepancy compared to the urban areas where more than 60% of the households have access to electricity. The per capita consumption of electricity is at a low level per capita.<br/>
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 === Rural Electricity Supply ===
-- to be updated -
+''- to be updated -''
 More than 80% of the population (total of 20 Mio people) live in rural areas which signifies an untypically low level of urbanisation in the African context. The increase of urbanisation is equally low.<br/>Only 7% of the rural population have access to electricity.<ref name=":1" /> Those, who have access, get their energy mainly from diesel power plants in isolated small or mini grids. The power plants usually only work for a few hours in the evening and prices per kWh are high (about 55 €cents/kWh). While there were initially exclusively diesel-run electrification schemes, the sector has since 2007 shifted towards renewable energy projects with by now about 9 small hydropower-plants, 5 wind power plants and 1 biomass plant running village electrification schemes (In addition there are a few older plants and a few plants implemented by NGOs on the basis of renewable energies). Solar power is up to now only used for the electrification of some social infrastructure (including public lighting) and for single households mainly in the form of pico-solar-systems.<br/>
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ==<span class="mw-headline" id="Key_Problems_of_the_Energy_Sector">Key Problems of the Energy Sector</span>==
-- to be updated -  / merge with section below
+''- to be updated -  / merge with section below''
 Power Africa lists the following as Madagascar's energy sector's top issues and bottlenecks<ref name="Power Africa. (2018). Madagascar Factsheet. Retrieved from: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/MadagascarPACFSDEC2017.508.pdf">Power Africa. (2018). Madagascar Factsheet. Retrieved from: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1860/MadagascarPACFSDEC2017.508.pdf</ref>:&nbsp;
@@ Line 61: / Line 61: @@
 == Institutional Set-up and Actors in the Energy Sector ==
-- to be updated -
+''- to be updated -''
 === Public Institutions ===
@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
 == Policy Framework ==
-- to be updated -
+''- to be updated -''
@@ Line 120: / Line 121: @@
 ==  Key Problems Hampering Access to Modern Energy Services in Rural Areas ==
-- to be updated - merge with section above
+''- to be updated - merge with section above''
 === Obstacles for Grid-based Rural Electrification ===

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 The installed capacity of electricity production in Madagascar accounts for under 800 MW, against a peak load of 680MW. The country faces system losses of 31% due to aging infrastructure.<ref name=":1" />
-With 46%, almost half of Madagascar's electricity generation is based on oil. Renewables account for 34.5 % of the electricity generation, most of it coming from hydro electric, which accounts for 31% of the total generation or 94% of the renewables generation.<ref name=":3" /> Hydropower is generated mostly by six hydro plants, but electricity generation has been declining over the last years, due to aging hydro plants, lacking maintenance and rehabilitation, and water shortages. <ref name=":2" /><ref>UNDP, 2020, [https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/UNDP-UNCDF-Madagascar-Energy-and-the-Poor.pdf Madagascar - Energy and the poor. Unpacking the investment case for off-grid cleaner energy.] </ref>
+With 46%, almost half of Madagascar's electricity generation is based on oil. Renewables account for 34.5 % of the electricity generation, most of it coming from hydro electric, which accounts for 31% of the total generation or 94% of the renewables generation.<ref name=":3" /> Hydropower is generated mostly by six hydro plants, but electricity generation has been declining over the last years, due to aging hydro plants, lacking maintenance and rehabilitation, and water shortages. <ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">UNDP, 2020, [https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/UNDP-UNCDF-Madagascar-Energy-and-the-Poor.pdf Madagascar - Energy and the poor. Unpacking the investment case for off-grid cleaner energy.] </ref>
 == Energy Demand and Supply in the Household Sector ==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == Energy Situation ==
-Access to electricity is low, with around 36% of the total population having access to electricity (23% grid access). In rural areas, only 7% of the population has access to electricity.<ref name=":1">Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, 2025, [https://www.afdb.org/en/mission-300-africa-energy-summit/accelerating-africas-energy-transition/madagascar-energy-factsheet Madagascar Energy Factsheet.] </ref> The Government of Madagascar has set a target of 70% access to electricity by 2030. Grid electricity supply is unreliable due to a number of factors, including dependence on fuel oil, low hydropower production due to water shortages, financial and operational deficits, and outdated infrastructure for electricity generation, transmission and distribution, resulting in losses.<ref>World Bank, 2025, [https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/nasikiliza/powering-madagascars-future-unleashing-private-investment-to-achieve-energy-goals-afe-0225 Powering Madagascar's future: Unleashing private investment to achieve energy goals.] </ref>
+Access to electricity is low, with around 36% of the total population having access to electricity (23% grid access). In rural areas, only 7% of the population has access to electricity.<ref name=":1">Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, 2025, [https://www.afdb.org/en/mission-300-africa-energy-summit/accelerating-africas-energy-transition/madagascar-energy-factsheet Madagascar Energy Factsheet.] </ref> The Government of Madagascar has set a target of 70% access to electricity by 2030. Grid electricity supply is unreliable due to a number of factors, including dependence on fuel oil, low hydropower production due to water shortages, financial and operational deficits, and outdated infrastructure for electricity generation, transmission and distribution, resulting in losses.<ref name=":2">World Bank, 2025, [https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/nasikiliza/powering-madagascars-future-unleashing-private-investment-to-achieve-energy-goals-afe-0225 Powering Madagascar's future: Unleashing private investment to achieve energy goals.] </ref>
-Only 1.5% of the population has access to clean cooking technologies and fuels.<sup>[6]</sup>
+Only 1.5% of the population has access to clean cooking technologies and fuels.<ref name=":3">IEA, 2022, [https://www.iea.org/countries/madagascar Madagascar].</ref>
-In 2022, 85% of Madagascar's total energy supply derived from bioenergy, followed by oil (11%), coal (2.5%) and hydro (1%).<sup>[6]</sup>
+In 2022, 85% of Madagascar's total energy supply derived from bioenergy, followed by oil (11%), coal (2.5%) and hydro (1%).<ref name=":3" />
-Madagascar’s energy balance shows that about 80% of its overall energy consumption is based on biomass (mainly firewood 68%, charcoal 10% and other biomass 2%), 17% on petrol (transport), 2% on electricity (hydropower and diesel power plants) and 1% on coal.<sup>[7]</sup>
+Madagascar’s energy balance shows that about 80% of its overall energy consumption is based on biomass (mainly firewood 68%, charcoal 10% and other biomass 2%), 17% on petrol (transport), 2% on electricity (hydropower and diesel power plants) and 1% on coal.<ref>UNIDO, 2023, [https://downloads.unido.org/ot/32/02/32024446/Evaluation&#x20;report&#x20;on&#x20;Increased&#x20;energy&#x20;access&#x20;for&#x20;productive&#x20;use&#x20;through&#x20;small&#x20;hydropower&#x20;development&#x20;in&#x20;rural&#x20;areas&#x20;in&#x20;Madagascar.pdf TE: Increased Energy Access for Productive Uses Through the Development of Small Hydropower in Rural Areas in Madagascar UNIDO Project 120094, GEF ID: 5317]</ref>
-Until today crude oil / petroleum products are all imported. Even though Madagascar has oil in place the oilfields are not being exploited yet.
+Until today crude oil / petroleum products are all imported.<ref name=":3" /> Even though Madagascar has oil in place the oilfields are not being exploited yet.
-Access to electricity is low with about 36% of the total population having access to electricity (23% grid access). Only 1.5% has access to clean cooking technologies and fuels. In rural areas, only 7% of the population have access to electricity.
+== Electricity Generation ==
-The installed capacity of electricity production in Madagascar accounts for under 800 MW, against a peak load of 680MW.<ref name=":1" />
+With 46%, almost half of Madagascar's electricity generation is based on oil. Renewables account for 34.5 % of the electricity generation, most of it coming from hydro electric, which accounts for 31% of the total generation or 94% of the renewables generation.<ref name=":3" /> Hydropower is generated mostly by six hydro plants, but electricity generation has been declining over the last years, due to aging hydro plants, lacking maintenance and rehabilitation, and water shortages. <ref name=":2" /><ref>UNDP, 2020, [https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/publications/UNDP-UNCDF-Madagascar-Energy-and-the-Poor.pdf Madagascar - Energy and the poor. Unpacking the investment case for off-grid cleaner energy.] </ref>
 == Energy Demand and Supply in the Household Sector ==