Country snapshot · West Africa
Niger
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
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| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10.3 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 18.9 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 27.1 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 37.5 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.2% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (37.5 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
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| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 10.8% | 2024 |
| Urban | 69.1% | 2024 |
| National | 21.3% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2025 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N4
75.1% (2025 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN5
Export rules: Partial
- Regulator
- ARSE
- Main utility
- NIGELEC
Export rulesElectricity Code 2016 lets self-producers sell surplus with ministerial authorisation; implementing decree not found.5,6High confidenceShow detail
No net-metering or feed-in framework found. Code 2016, Art. 45 lets an autoproducer sell surplus to a licensed delegate with ministerial authorisation. Art. 47 refers the conditions to a decree, which was not found. Art. 46 bars grid connection without express ministerial authorisation.
How exports are creditedNone found5,6High confidenceShow detail
None found. No price for autoproducer surplus. Art. 64 is a general rule: tariffs negotiated between operators, subject to regulator approval.
Size limits and licensingDeclaration below 20 kW; ministerial authorisation above.5,6High confidenceShow detail
Declaration below 20 kW; prior ministerial authorisation above 20 kW, after the regulator's opinion.
Mini-grid rulesMini-grid law drafted; status unclear.5,6Medium confidenceShow detail
AEP says a mini-grid law "a été élaborée" (has been drafted), but its recommendations say it still needs to be passed, so its status is unclear. The Code has no mini-grid chapter; rural electrification falls under Art. 44.
Market access beyond the utilityThird-party access in the Code; direct sales to consumers above 10 MW.5,6High confidenceShow detail
Third-party access is in the Code: the regulator ensures fair access (Art. 8), transport operators cannot refuse (Art. 29), and a toll applies (Art. 30). Producers may sell directly to large consumers above 10,000 kW (Art. 24). AEP says there is no distribution grid code yet.
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.
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.
