Country snapshot · Central Africa

Central African Republic

Export rules: None foundData as of 10 October 2026
4.8MW
Solar added in 2026 (Ember estimate, all segments)1N3,N4
– (not shown: the 2025 base is under 10 MW)
Change on 20251N1
2025: 1.1 MW (Ember estimate)
18.2%
Access to electricity, 20242N5
4.36million
People without electricity, 2024 (DERCA calculation)2N5

Solar added each year

Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.

Central African Republic: solar added per year, 2023–2026, MW (Ember estimates)2023: 0.7 MW; 2024: 2.4 MW; 2025: 1.1 MW; 2026 estimate: 4.8 MW0.720232.420241.120254.82026E
Central African Republic: solar added per year, 2023–2026, MW (Ember estimates)2023: 0.7 MW; 2024: 2.4 MW; 2025: 1.1 MW; 2026 estimate: 4.8 MW0.720232.420241.120254.82026E
View as tableHide table
Solar added per year, MW
YearMWBasis
20230.7Ember estimate
20242.4Ember estimate
20251.1Ember estimate
2026E4.8Ember estimate, full year

0.0% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (4.8 of 17,449.4 MW).1

Who has electricity

Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.

Central African Republic: access to electricity, rural vs urban, 2024Rural 2.0%, urban 38.8%, national 18.2%.National 18.2%Rural 2.0%Urban 38.8%0%25%50%75%100%
Central African Republic: access to electricity, rural vs urban, 2024Rural 2.0%, urban 38.8%, national 18.2%.National 18.2%Rural 2.0%Urban 38.8%0%50%100%
View as tableHide table
Access to electricity, 2024
AreaAccessYear
Rural2.0%2024
Urban38.8%2024
National18.2%2024
Rural 2.0%Urban 38.8%Without electricity 4.36m (DERCA calculation)

World Bank WDI, 2024.2

How reliable is the grid for business?

Firms experiencing electrical outages (2023 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N6

Central African Republic: share of firms experiencing electrical outagesCentral African Republic 89.3% (2023 survey); Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4%; World 47.5% (2025).Central African Republic(2023)89.3%Sub-Saharan Africa72.4%World47.5%
Central African Republic: share of firms experiencing electrical outagesCentral African Republic 89.3% (2023 survey); Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4%; World 47.5% (2025).Central AfricanRepublic (2023)89.3%Sub-SaharanAfrica72.4%World47.5%

89.3% (2023 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)

The rules for small-scale generationN2,N7

Export rules: None found

Regulator
ARSEC
Main utility
ENERCA
Export rulesNone found5Medium confidenceShow detail

None found

Sources: 5
How exports are creditedNone foundShow detail

None found

Size limits and licensingNone found. Code lacked implementing texts (as of 2017).5Medium confidenceShow detail

None found. Autoproducer defined but no thresholds given; Code lacked implementing texts (as of 2017)

Sources: 5
Mini-grid rulesNone found5Low confidenceShow detail

None found (ACER mandate to promote rural installations only)

Sources: 5
Market access beyond the utility2005 Electricity Code ended ENERCA's monopoly in law; private framework unclear.5Medium confidenceShow detail

2005 Code liberalised the sub-sector, ending ENERCA monopoly in law, but private operator framework unclear

Sources: 5
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundShow detail

None found

“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.

Recent developments

Dated developments, 2024–2026.

  1. Aug 2026

    First tranche of the 65 MW Sakaï 2 solar plant near Bangui commissioned.6

The full report

This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.

The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.

Suggest a correction for Central African RepublicContribute data

Get the full report

Africa’s Invisible Grid (PDF, 30 pages). Enter your details and we’ll email you a link to the report.