Nigeria has overtaken Egypt to become Africa’s second-biggest solar importer, following a surge in solar panel imports across the continent, according to energy think tank Ember.
Between July 2024 and June 2025, Nigeria imported 1,721 MW of solar panels, trailing only South Africa. Across Africa, imports jumped 60% year-on-year to 15,032 MW, up from 9,379 MW previously.
Smaller countries also saw record growth: Algeria imported 1,199 MW, while nations like Zambia, Botswana, Sudan, Liberia, Benin, Angola, and Ethiopia posted triple-digit increases.
Ember estimates that if these panels are fully installed, electricity output in countries like Sierra Leone could rise by 61%, while Chad could see a 49% boost.
For Nigeria, the impact on generation share will be modest due to its larger energy base, but the savings on diesel costs are significant. According to the report, solar panel costs can be recovered in less than six months by avoiding diesel expenses, making it an attractive option for businesses and households.
Despite the spike, solar imports remain small compared to petroleum products. Ember noted that in nine of the top 10 solar-importing African nations, refined fuel imports still exceed solar imports by 30 to 107 times.
Chief Analyst at Ember, Dave Jones, described the trend as “a pivotal moment” for Africa’s clean energy transition, while stressing the need for more research to track its long-term effects.
This comes as Nigeria debates a proposed ban on solar panel imports. Minister of Science and Technology Uche Nnaji recently announced plans to restrict imports to encourage local manufacturing, a move critics warn could worsen the energy deficit.
