WHY IS TOGO EXPERIENCING POWER OUTAGES DESPITE ITS ELECTRICITY GENERATION EFFORTS?
The return of power outages in Togo has raised growing public concern. At first glance, the country appears to have an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 482 megawatts (MW). However, this capacity is not fully available at all times.
According to Komla Awuté, Managing Director of EGENT TOGO, a company specializing in renewable energy, « Togo consumes around 250 MW during the day. However, between 5:00 p.m. and midnight—when households switch on air conditioners, televisions, refrigerators, and other electrical appliances—electricity demand rises to nearly 380 MW.«
Several factors explain the recurring power cuts. One of the main challenges is Togo’s heavy reliance on imported electricity. According to the Managing Director of EGENT TOGO, nearly 50% of the country’s electricity supply comes from Nigeria and Ghana. As a result, any disruption in electricity exports from these neighboring countries can have an immediate impact on Togo’s national grid.
This was the case on 29 July 2026, when power supply disruptions affected several parts of the country. According to the Compagnie Énergie Électrique du Togo (CEET), the incident resulted from a voltage loss on Ghana’s power transmission system, which affected electricity imports into Togo.
In addition, part of Togo’s electricity generation comes from renewable energy sources that are inherently intermittent. For example, the Blitta Solar Power Plant can generate up to 100 MW during daylight hours, but its output drops significantly at night precisely when electricity demand reaches its daily peak.
In short, the current load shedding is not primarily the result of insufficient installed generation capacity. Rather, it reflects a mismatch between the electricity actually available during peak demand periods and the country’s consumption needs. Behind every power outage are households, businesses, artisans, and essential services whose daily activities are disrupted, underscoring the importance of strengthening energy resilience and diversifying Togo’s electricity supply.
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