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.
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.
Abbreviationfinder: A popular acronym site in the world covering abbreviation for each country. For example, BN stands for Benin. Visit itypeusa for more information about 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.
