Benin

Benin has a population of approximately 15.2 million and a nominal GDP of $24.57 billion in 2025 which is a 14.4% increase when compared with its nominal GDP in 2024. The country maintained a consistent growth in its nominal GDP from 2022 to 2025 achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.96% making Benin one of the fastest-growing economies in West Africa. The economic performance is driven by strong performance in trade, services, agriculture and port services. Benin is not an oil or gas producer and the country continues to rely heavily on imported electricity to meet domestic demand. As a result, energy contributes to the economy primarily through its role in supporting industrialisation, trade and regional integration rather than through production or exports.

The country’s access to the Atlantic ocean positions it as a regional transit and logistics hub driving trade across West Africa through the Port of Cotonou. Within the context of energy, Benin connects producing oil fields in landlocked Niger to the international market through the Sèmè-Podji Terminal and the 1,950 km Niger–Benin Export Pipeline.

Benin’s energy mix relies heavily on its neighbours, particularly Nigeria and Ghana as about 90% of electricity supply is imported. Domestic production is largely concentrated on the 127MW Maria Gléta Power Plant whose feedstock primarily comes from the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) originating from Nigeria. In addition to this, electricity access still presents an issue as the World Bank estimates that approximately 57% of the country has access to electricity.

The combination of its heavy dependence on its neighbours and the disproportionate electricity access across the country presents an investment opportunity in renewable energy to close the gap - an opportunity that is being spearheaded by the government. In 2022, the country’s first grid-connected, utility-scale solar plant was commissioned backed by guarantees from the government and financed by the French development agency and the European Union. There is also a significant push for off-grid solar initiatives targeting rural electrification. The growth and resilience of the country’s energy mix is dependent on the success of these initiatives and the attraction of private investments into the electricity infrastructure.