ENERGIZING FINANCE: TAKING THE PULSE 2019

Madagascar faces a significant energy access gap, with grid expansion stagnating and clean cooking adoption among the lowest in Africa. To reach SDG7 by 2030, the country requires approximately USD 2.4 billion in total financing for off-grid electricity and improved cooking solutions. While stand-alone solar is the primary driver for electrification, reaching 84.8% of households requires USD 1.8 billion, including USD 662 million to address affordability gaps. Mini-grids are projected to reach 1.4% of households with USD 92 million in financing. In the clean cooking sector, 99% of households lack clean solutions; achieving universal access via industrial improved cookstoves (ICS) requires USD 148 million for enterprises and USD 217 million for affordability gap financing.

• Under a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, grid coverage in Madagascar is projected to decline to 9% of households by 2030 because current expansion cannot keep pace with population growth.
• To achieve universal electricity access by 2030, stand-alone solar must provide access to 84.8% of households, requiring USD 1.19 billion for enterprise financing and an additional USD 662 million to bridge the affordability gap.
• Mini-grids are expected to have a modest impact on universal access, reaching 1.4% of households (approximately 131,000) by 2030 in the forecast scenario, requiring USD 92 million in cumulative financing.
• Madagascar has the largest clean cooking deficit in Africa, with 99% of households lacking clean cooking solutions as of 2018; less than 1% use clean fuels and a fraction of a percent use improved wood or charcoal stoves.
• Achieving universal clean cooking access by 2030 primarily through industrial improved cookstoves (ICS) requires USD 148 million for enterprises and USD 217 million for affordability gap financing.
• The state-owned utility JIRAMA is insolvent and unable to expand the grid due to operational difficulties such as theft, vandalism, and hardware failure, with grid access falling from 15% in 2008 to 13% in 2015.
• The stand-alone solar market is hindered by a lack of quality standards, with the majority of products sold being low-quality and distributed through informal channels.
• Clean fuel uptake (LPG, biogas, and ethanol) is expected to be limited to approximately 5% of households by 2030 due to affordability and logistical challenges, including unreliable internal road systems.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2019). ENERGIZING FINANCE: TAKING THE PULSE 2019. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-12/Taking-Pulse-Madagascar_0.pdf

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. ENERGIZING FINANCE: TAKING THE PULSE 2019. 2019. https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-12/Taking-Pulse-Madagascar_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=ENERGIZING FINANCE: TAKING THE PULSE 2019 |date=2019 |url=https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-12/Taking-Pulse-Madagascar_0.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforall2019energizing, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{ENERGIZING FINANCE: TAKING THE PULSE 2019}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2019}, url = {https://www.seforall.org/system/files/2019-12/Taking-Pulse-Madagascar_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }