Niger
With a cumulative score of 0.92, Niger ranks number 92 among emerging markets and number 121 in the global ranking.
- Emerging markets
- Middle East & Africa
1.09 / 5
Power score
0.54 / 5
Transport score
Buildings score
Only 56 markets (28 emerging markets) are scored on the Buildings sector. See the full list on the methodology page.
Low-carbon strategy
Net-zero goal and strategy
Niger does not have a net-zero goal or strategy.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
Under Niger’s ‘nationally determined contribution’ (NDC) – the country’s official plan to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – it aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5% from 1990 levels by 2020 versus a business-as-usual scenario, and 3.5% by 2030. With international financial support and greater access to low-carbon technologies, it says these targets could be increased to a 25% cut by 2020 and 34.6% reduction by 2030. The sectors being targeted for mitigation are energy, agriculture, and forestry and other land uses.
Fossil fuel phase-out policy
Niger does not have a fossil fuel phase-out policy.
Power
Power policy
Niger’s energy market is primarily composed of natural gas capacity (84%) with small amounts of coal. The country’s National Action Plan for Renewable Energies (PANER) set a target to increase the share of renewables in installed generation capacity to 27% by 2020, and 28% in 2030, up from zero in 2010. In order to incentivize the uptake of renewables, Niger has implemented import tax and VAT exemptions. The country used to carry out auctions, but the policy has since become inactive.
Niger’s electrification rate is 14.3%, with rural electrification being even lower at 5.4%. The country is aiming for universal rural electrification by 2035, which is being aided by the World Bank’s $50 million Niger Solar Electricity Access Project (NESAP) program. There is a need to modernize the power plant fleet, but the country is focused on building up capacity to achieve electrification goals.
Power policies
Power prices and costs
Niger’s government subsidizes diesel, kerosene, and power prices. This is primarily to help individuals who have to use diesel generation, but the subsidies benefit all consumers.
Electricity tariffs were last adjusted in 2018 and are currently expected to be amended for the 2021-22 period. Customers with a medium-voltage connection have different tariffs depending on peak and off-peak hours.
Power market
Retail power is dominated by the national utility, NIGELEC, meaning consumers cannot freely choose a provider. Generation was opened up to independent power producers in 2016, but none have entered the market so far.
Installed Capacity (in MW)
Electricity Generation (in GWh)
Utility privatisation
Which segments of the power sector are open to private participation?
Wholesale power market
Does the country have a wholesale power market?
Doing business and barriers
The lack of any real framework for rural off-grid electrification is an issue, with tariffs, licensing, and bidding strategies being left by the wayside in the absence of the required policy and regulatory architecture. Low purchasing power is another big issue, as well as a lack of awareness about the financial advantages of photovoltaics. Adverse meteorological conditions and the deteriorating security situation through the spread of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are further substantial barriers to project development.
Currency of PPAs
Are PPAs signed in or indexed to U.S. Dollars or Euro?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Fossil fuel subsidies
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) down through subsidies?
Fossil fuel taxes
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) up through taxes?
Transport
EV market
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector and the electric vehicle market remains at an early stage.
EV policy
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector and the EV market remains at an early stage.
Transport policies
Fuel economy standards
Does the country have a fuel economy standard in place?
Buildings
Buildings market
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector and the low-carbon heat market remains at an early stage.
Energy efficiency plan
Does the country have a national energy efficiency plan?
Energy performance standards
Are there minimum energy performance standards for buildings?
Buildings policy
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector and the low-carbon heat market remains at an early stage.
