Country Overview
The African country of the Togolese Republic (Togo) is bordered by Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The population of Togo is approximately 9.13 million people.
In 2022, Togo’s economy was ranked 144th in gross domestic product (GDP) in the world. The country’s economy is dependent on the export of gold, asphalt mixtures, calcium phosphates, and soybeans.
Environmental Policies
In 2016, Togo signed the Paris Climate Agreement, committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions of 11.4% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.
In 2018, Togo initiated a program to provide electricity to everyone in the nation by 2030 through the deployment of grid and non-grid power projects. In 2018, only 50.0% of the nation had access to electricity.
Power Generation Capabilities
In 2021, 55.7% of the people in Togo had access to electricity. In 2021, state-owned electric utility, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CET) used oil (50.8%), renewable energy (27.0%), and natural gas (22.2%) to generate electricity across the nation. Hydropower is the dominant type of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Togo.
Recent renewable energy projects in Togo include:
- 50 MW Solar Project – In March 2021, the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Solar Power Plant in the Blitta region in central Togo was commissioned.
- 50 MW Hydropower Project – Moroccan company, Neo Themis is continuing work on a hydropower project in southern Togo. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2025.
- 42 MW Solar Project – The West African Development Bank (BOAD) is evaluating contractors to build the Awandjélo Solar project in northern Togo. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2024.
- 20 MW Solar + 4 MWh Energy Storage – United Arab Emirates (UAE) company Amea Power is continuing work to expand the Mohammed Bin Zayed solar plant from 50 MW to 70 MW and add a battery energy storage system (BESS).
- Solar-Powered Water Generation Project – British utility Bboxx and French utility EDF are continuing work installing solar-powered water generation systems for 5,000 farm across the country.
- Biomass Project – The German Biomass Research Center and the Togolese University of Lomé are continuing work with on a biogas pilot project The pilot is scheduled to be completed by ear-end 2023.
Conclusions
Togo imports all the nation’s refined petroleum and crude oil for power generation and transportation. In 2021, the nation imported U.S. $5.56 Billion of refined petroleum and U.S. $431 Million of crude oil.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand to place economic sanctions on Russian imports and exports. As a result, the crude oil and natural gas prices increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
Togo has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources, including hydropower, solar, onshore wind, biomass, and offshore wind. Togo’s renewable energy resources could easily replace all the expensive refined petroleum and natural gas fueled power plants.
Substantial international is providing Togo with clean, low-cost renewable energy. Renewable energy is providing Togo with a bright future.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio, podcast, and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.