Mogadishu, Somalia – The Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdillahi Bidhan, has called on electricity companies across Somalia to lower power tariffs, citing the government’s financial support to the energy sector as a key reason to make electricity more affordable for ordinary citizens.
The minister emphasized that the government’s ongoing assistance to service providers is meant to stabilize and expand access to reliable power, not to boost profit margins. With many households still struggling to afford basic electricity, the minister urged companies to pass on the benefits of state subsidies directly to consumers.
Somalia’s electricity prices remain among the highest in the region, driven by heavy dependence on imported diesel and fragmented private supply networks. Over the past year, the government has taken steps to ease these challenges through targeted interventions, including support for renewable energy projects and direct financial aid to licensed providers.
The appeal comes at a time when the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources is leading reforms aimed at regulating tariffs and improving service delivery, particularly in urban centers like Mogadishu, Garowe, and Baidoa. Officials say lowering power costs would not only improve living standards but also boost small businesses and encourage investment in manufacturing and local production.
By calling on power companies to align with the government’s affordability goals, Minister Bidhan underscored the shared responsibility between the public and private sectors in lighting up Somalia’s future and ensuring that no family is left in the dark.