Electricity generation from oil in South Africa
South Africa: Electricity generation from oil was 1.95 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from oil in South Africa, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation from oil in South Africa stood at 1.95 terawatt-hours.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 51.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from oil in South Africa peaked at 3.99 terawatt-hours in 2015 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1989.
That places South Africa 54th out of 209 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0354 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0.051 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.136 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 1.17 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7 terawatt-hours | 0.03 terawatt-hours | 3.99 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.67 terawatt-hours | 1.49 terawatt-hours | 3.68 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More energy & mining data for South Africa
- Fuel imports 17.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 2.5% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 30.3% (2025)
- Gas production 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0.6284 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 9.82 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 8.2% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 10.2% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs gdp per capita 56.31 (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from oil in South Africa?
- Electricity generation from oil in South Africa was 1.95 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from oil recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.99 terawatt-hours in 2015.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from oil recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1989.
- How does South Africa rank for electricity generation from oil?
- South Africa ranks 54th out of 209 groups with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from oil rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from oil. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.