Uruguay Key Figures
- Population:
- 3.43 million
- GDP growth rate:
- 0.37 %/year
- Energy independence:
- 59.3%
Data of the last year available: 2023
- Total consumption/GDP:*
- 113 (2005=100)
- CO2 Emissions:
- 2.00 tCO2/capita
- Rate of T&D power losses:
- 9.15%
* at purchasing power parity
View all macro and energy indicators in the Uruguay energy report
Uruguay Energy News
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Uruguay Energy Research
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Uruguay Total Energy Production & Consumption
The average primary energy consumption per capita stood at 1.7 toe in 2023, including around 3 600 kWh/cap of electricity.
Total energy consumption rose to 5.9 Mtoe in 2023 (+7%), after remaining stable in 2022 and growing by 7% in 2021.
In 2023, biomass replaced oil as the leading energy source in the total energy mix, rising to 47% from 41% in 2022. Meanwhile, oil's share dropped to 38%, down from 43% in 2022. Most of the biomass is used in industry (around 2/3).
The share of renewables (including hydro) increased from 51% in 2010 to 61% in 2023.
Source: Uruguay energy report
Interactive Chart Uruguay Total Energy Production & Consumption
Source: Global Energy & CO2 data
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View the detailed fondamentals of the market at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the Uruguay energy report
Uruguay Oil Production & Consumption
Until 2023, most of the oil imports consisted of crude oil. In 2023, imports of crude oil decreased by 45% to 1.4 Mtoe due to a stoppage at the only refinery in the country, Teja, for technical maintenance (from September 2022 to April 2023); Teja has a capacity of 50 kb/d. Imports of oil products doubled in 2023 to 1.1 Mtoe, evenly split between the USA and Nigeria.
Source: Uruguay energy report
Interactive Chart Uruguay Crude Oil Production & Consumption
Source: Global Energy & CO2 data
Interactive Chart Uruguay Refined Oil Products Production & Consumption
Source: Global Energy & CO2 data
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our America Refineries Dataset
Uruguay Natural Gas Production & Consumption
In 2008, an important offshore gas reserve was discovered approximately 100 km off Punta del Este. Exploration started in 2010.
The country imports small quantities of gas from Argentina (between 50 mcm and 100 mcm depending on the year; 81 mcm in 2023), through two gas pipes: the first one entered into service in 1998 (northern gas pipeline, capacity of 700 000 m³/d and length of 20 km) and the second one in 2002, Gasoducto Cruz del Sur (capacity of 6 mcm/d).
Source: Uruguay energy report
Interactive Chart Uruguay Gas Production & Consumption
Source: Global Energy & CO2 data
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on the LNG trade, you can request a sample of our America LNG Trade Dataset
Uruguay Renewable in % Electricity Production
The target set in the National Energy Policy 2005-2030 to reach a 50% share of renewables in total primary consumption in 2015 (compared with 35% in 2005) was achieved in 2014 with renewables accounting for 53% of the primary consumption; the additional goal of 1.2 GW of wind capacity was reached in 2016.
Measures set to promote renewables include calls for tenders for renewables and a Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme for wind.
Foreign investments in renewables are made through the Investment, Export, and Country Brand Agency.
Source: Uruguay energy report
Interactive Chart Uruguay Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)
Source: Global Energy & CO2 data
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Uruguay GHG emissions and CO2 emissions
In its updated NDC (2022), the country established an unconditional cap on energy-related emissions of 9.3 MtCO2 by 2030 and an additional effort of 0.96 MtCO2 conditional on aid. In its first NDC (2017), Uruguay targeted a 24% reduction in CO2 energy-related emissions by 2025 compared to 1990 levels (29% with international aid). The NDC also included targets for other GHG.
In 2019, Uruguay committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
Source: Uruguay energy report
Interactive Chart Uruguay CO2 emissions
Source: Global Energy & CO2 data
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
View the detailed consumption trends at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the Uruguay energy report