Natural resources, energy and environment
In northern Benin there are deposits of
phosphate, chromium, uranium, iron ore and more. But in
the mining industry, only limestone (for cement
production), marble and smaller quantities of gold are
mined. Foreign mining companies have been authorized to
explore the gold assets.
In 1982, with the help of, among others, Norway, oil
extraction started in the sea off Cotonou. In 2003 and
again in 2009, new oil deposits were discovered on
Beninese water. However, oil recovery has so far been
marginal. In 2013, the government said that an oil
source estimated to contain 87 million barrels had been
discovered under the sea. Natural gas deposits are found
in the sea off the coast of Benin and are extracted on a
small scale.
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COUNTRYAAH:
Major exports by Benin with a full list of the top products exported by the country. Includes trade value in U.S. dollars and the percentage for each product category.
The country's energy needs are largely covered by
firewood and other traditional fuels. Much of Benin's
electricity comes from the Akasombo Dam in Ghana.
However, this has meant some interruptions in the
electricity supply as the water level in the dam
sometimes drops as a result of drought.
In 2007, Benin, Togos, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina
Fasos electricity networks were linked with Nigeria and
Nigers as part of a regional project to form an
integrated energy market by 2020. Part of the project
was also a supply line for Benin, Togo and Ghana. with
natural gas from Nigeria.
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Abbreviationfinder: A popular acronym site in the world covering abbreviation for each country. For example, BN stands for Benin.
Environmental issues have so far paid relatively
little attention and Cotonou is one of West Africa's
most polluted cities. Extensive harvesting of forests is
a problem for the environment as well as soil erosion.
In some areas near cities, replanting of fast-growing
tree varieties is underway. A growing environmental
problem is also the gradual destruction of the coast.
The harbor construction, dam facilities near the coast
and the removal of sand from the beaches have
contributed to the sea gradually eating into the
country. In some places, the coast has been moved back
as much as 15 meters a year for the past two decades. In
an effort to counter the sea's progress, the government
has begun to build heavy fences that will prevent the
sand from being moved by the ocean currents.
FACTS - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Energy use per person
405 kilos of oil equivalent (2014)
Electricity consumption per person
97 kilowatt hours, kWh (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions in total
6 318 thousand tonnes (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions per inhabitant
0.6 ton (2014)
The share of energy from renewable sources
50.9 percent (2015)
2011
August
The death penalty is abolished
Parliament votes to abolish the death penalty. In
addition, a law against corruption is unanimously
adopted, requiring that persons in senior positions
report all their private assets publicly.
Large pay raise for government employees
After a series of strikes, the Yayi government agrees
to raise the salaries of civil servants by 25 percent.
The increase will be implemented gradually over three
years. During that period, trade unions have pledged not
to strike.
July
Swedish ship subjected to hijacking attempts
The Swedish oil tanker Gotland Sofia is subjected to
a hijacking attempt in the waters off Benin, where the
pirate attacks increased during the year.
April
FCBE remains the largest party
April 30th
In the parliamentary elections, the governing FCBE
will again be the largest party, now with 41 out of 83
seats. Valalliance Union makes the nation (UN) comes in
second place with 31 seats. With support parties, and
since the largest UN party has left the alliance and
gone over to FCBE, Yayi can count on 61 of the seats in
Parliament. However, turnout is likely to have been low.
March
Yayi re-elected in the first round
the 13th of March
Boni Yayi is re-elected in the presidential election
with 53 percent of the vote in the first round. Thus no
other round of elections is held. Adrien Houngbédji, who
ranks second with 36 percent of the vote, says that
electoral fraud has occurred. However, international
election monitors believe that the election was made
correctly. The turnout is 81 percent.
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