Benin has taken a major step in restructuring its energy sector after the Council of Ministers approved new strategic planning instruments aimed at transforming the country’s electricity supply over the next two decades.
At its meeting on January 28, 2026, in Cotonou, the government validated the guiding framework for the Electricity Sub-sector Development Master Plan to 2045, alongside updated versions of the National Electrification Plan and the Off-Grid Electrification Plan. The decisions form part of Benin’s broader National Electrification Strategy, which seeks to accelerate access to reliable, affordable, and high-quality electricity nationwide.
The updated roadmap is designed to anticipate rising electricity demand driven by population growth, urbanisation, and industrial expansion, while addressing long-standing supply constraints. Authorities say the new plans will help achieve a more sustainable balance between electricity generation and consumption, strengthen the security and reliability of interconnected power networks, and guide investment decisions in a sector considered critical to Benin’s economic transformation.
A key feature of the revised strategy is the integration of energy infrastructure projects and reforms implemented between 2016 and 2026 that were not captured in the original planning framework. By consolidating these achievements into a single, coherent reference document, the government aims to improve coordination, reduce inefficiencies, and optimise both public and private investment in the power sector over the short, medium, and long term.
Officials say the new electricity roadmap reflects a more realistic and data-driven approach to energy planning, aligning infrastructure development with Benin’s long-term growth ambitions. The strategy also places emphasis on expanding electrification through both grid extension and off-grid solutions, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
With this decision, the government signals its intention to provide a stable policy environment capable of attracting investment, improving service delivery, and ensuring that electricity becomes a catalyst rather than a constraint to Benin’s development agenda up to 2045.
