Summary
- In Nigeria alone, unstable power costs the economy nearly N5.5 trillion annually—more than some countries’ entire budgets.
- Burundi and the DRC plastic waste clogging hydroelectric dams has caused severe power shortages.
- South Africa has spent over 15 years under rolling blackouts, with a total economic loss exceeding R3 trillion since 2009.
Deep Dive!!!
Electricity fuels economies, powers businesses, and changes lives. But in parts of Africa, keeping the lights on is still a daily struggle. Businesses shut down, hospitals rely on generators, and economic growth is stifled by power instability. While some African nations have built resilient power grids, others remain trapped in a cycle of outages.
Even countries like South Africa—despite having one of the continent’s largest energy infrastructures—face relentless blackouts due to mismanagement and capacity issues. This list highlights the African nations with the most severe power crisis in 2025, exposing the root causes behind their failing grids.
10. Niger
Niger continues to suffer frequent blackouts, with power outages severely disrupting businesses and essential services. A major issue is its reliance on Nigeria’s unstable grid, meaning every collapse of Nigeria’s power supply directly impacts Niger. With a 5.5% annual sales loss for businesses due to outages, the country’s economic growth remains stunted. Upgrading its independent generation capacity is crucial, but progress has been slow.
9. Benin
Benin has faced prolonged power outages, particularly in key commercial areas. Network upgrades are ongoing, but transformer theft and vandalism have worsened the problem. Businesses have reported a 9.4% sales loss due to unreliable electricity, and while the government has made some efforts toward renewable energy, a lack of grid stability continues to hurt the economy.
8. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The DRC, despite its vast hydroelectric potential, suffers from widespread blackouts due to aging infrastructure and mismanagement. Frequent outages in 2024-2025 have cost businesses up to 31% of their annual sales. Additionally, plastic waste clogging the Ruzizi hydroelectric plant has further reduced power output. Flooding and weak grid connectivity make the crisis even worse, limiting industrial growth.
7. Ghana
Ghana, once considered a stable energy provider, has returned to a period of power instability. Gas supply limitations, peak demand exceeding capacity, and regulatory disputes have all led to increased outages. With an estimated $680 million in annual economic losses due to power shortages, businesses and households are struggling. Despite government reassurances, the energy sector’s debt burden continues to threaten long-term reliability.
6. Tanzania
In late 2024 and early 2025, Tanzania faced significant power disruptions, especially following Cyclone Dikeledi. Faults in the national grid and poor infrastructure maintenance contributed to the problem. Fallen tree branches damaging power lines further highlighted weaknesses in the distribution network. Businesses and households have suffered major losses due to damaged electrical equipment.
5. Burundi
Burundi’s energy crisis has worsened, with power cuts becoming a daily occurrence. One of the main issues is the plastic waste accumulating in the Ruzizi hydropower plant, reducing electricity generation. Additionally, fuel shortages have limited alternative energy sources, further deepening the crisis. The power instability has caused major setbacks for small businesses and slowed down economic growth projections for 2024-2025.
4. Zambia & Zimbabwe
Zambia and Zimbabwe are grouped together due to a shared energy crisis caused by a regional grid failure and severe drought conditions affecting hydroelectric plants. Load shedding in Zambia has reached up to 12 hours per day, while Zimbabwe faces 10-hour outages. The Kariba Dam, a key energy source for both nations, has experienced record-low water levels, drastically reducing power output. The situation remains critical, with no immediate solutions in sight.
3. Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, a major power supplier for West Africa, faced an unexpected electricity crisis in 2024. Unplanned outages at key power plants disrupted industries, particularly the cocoa grinding and mining sectors, leading to an $8 million loss. Despite having an advanced energy network, maintenance failures and an overburdened grid have led to severe shortages, raising concerns about long-term stability.
2. South Africa
Despite being one of Africa’s most industrialized nations, South Africa remains in the grip of its worst power crisis in decades. Load shedding returned in full force in early 2025, with Stage 6 blackouts crippling businesses and households. The economic impact is staggering—over R481 billion in 2024 alone, adding to the R3 trillion lost since 2009. Eskom, the state power utility, continues to struggle with debt, corruption, and aging infrastructure, making long-term stability uncertain.
1. Nigeria
Nigeria tops the list as the African country with the worst power outages in 2025. The national grid collapsed again on February 12, marking yet another failure in a long history of instability. Businesses suffer losses exceeding N5.5 trillion annually due to unreliable electricity, and experts estimate that stable power could increase Nigeria’s GDP by 5%. The main issues include outdated infrastructure, vandalism, poor maintenance, and an overall lack of investment in generation capacity. Until significant reforms are made, Nigeria’s power crisis will continue to hinder economic growth and development.
https://www.africanexponent.com/top-10-african-countries-with-the-worst-power-outages-in-2024-2025/
