By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 15 October 2025 — Somalia’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame, has announced that the government plans to increase the share of renewable energy to 50 per cent within the next three years.
The initiative is part of an effort to provide cleaner and more affordable electricity to the Somali population and help spur industrial growth.
During his speech at the Somali Achievers’ Forum today, which this year focuses on energy and innovation, Minister Warsame said that 49 per cent of Somalis still lack access to electricity or reliable power, a figure significantly lower than the African average of 65 per cent.
“We are working to reduce fuel dependency, cutting it by 50 per cent over the next three years, while generating the remaining per cent through solar energy, to deliver affordable and sustainable electricity for our people,” the minister stated.
He noted that 85 per cent of Somalia’s electricity is currently generated using imported diesel fuel, making it expensive and unsustainable. The government, he said, is prioritizing investments in renewable sources such as solar and wind energy to diversify power generation and lower costs.
Minister Warsame added that Somalia remains among the few countries without a national electricity grid, which he described as “the backbone of energy access.” He explained that the government is planning to rebuild and modernize the national grid, while private companies continue to fill the gap in the meantime.
He pointed out that Mogadishu currently has the lowest electricity prices in the country, with the average rate at $0.41 per kilowatt-hour. However, the Minister emphasized that the price remains higher compared to neighbouring cities like Addis Ababa and Nairobi, stressing the need for more competitive tariffs.
“We want Somalis, the true owners of this wealth, to benefit directly,” the Minister said. “A Somali mother who now pays $20 a month for a single light bulb should be able to use that same amount to power a lamp, a refrigerator, and other appliances that improve her family’s quality of life.”
Warsame also revealed that over $200 million worth of energy projects are currently underway in Somalia, with some already operational and others expected to begin within the next two years.
