Since the early days of the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in mid-April 2023, Sudan has lost around 1,000 megawatts of power generation due to the massive destruction of the Bahri and Garri thermal power stations. These stations went offline after fierce fighting in and around their facilities.
During the two years when Khartoum was under RSF control, the city witnessed a different kind of devastation, including the looting and destruction of underground copper distribution cables and the emptying of transformer stations, causing severe damage to the power grid. These events significantly worsened the already ongoing blackouts, adding electricity to the list of daily crises endured by citizens.
Collapse of the Grid
Now in the war’s third year, the RSF—especially after withdrawing from Khartoum—has targeted major power sources using drones, bombing stations in Umm Dabaker, Merowe Dam, Atbara, and Berber in northern Sudan. This has led to widespread and prolonged blackouts, crippling water supplies in many states, including the capital.
According to engineering sources, Sudan’s electricity sector is on the brink of total collapse due to relentless military operations, sabotage, and drone strikes, which disregard basic rules of engagement.
High Cost of Repair
Sources estimate that repairing the thermal stations in Garri and Khartoum Bahri, as well as the public distribution network, will require more than $2 billion due to the unprecedented damage.
The destruction of generation and distribution infrastructure has triggered a surge in demand for solar energy systems, particularly in Khartoum, for both residential and agricultural uses.
Sudan’s tropical climate and year-round sunshine present an enormous natural advantage for solar energy, with an average solar radiation of about 6 kWh/m² per day, according to the Sudan Electricity Distribution Company.
Rising Demand, Soaring Prices
The spike in demand for solar panels and their components—such as batteries and charging systems—has driven up prices, making the technology unaffordable for many citizens. Many people have turned to small-scale solar units just to charge phones and power a single light bulb.
Mohamed Hassan Abdel Qader remarked, “Despite the boom in solar panel sales, prices are completely out of reach. Most people can barely afford one meal a day.”
He noted that a basic solar power unit capable of running minimal household appliances now costs over 2.3 million Sudanese pounds (around $950 on the parallel market). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has imposed new taxes on solar equipment imports over the past three years.
Khartoum Turns to Alternatives
To mitigate the effects of blackouts in Khartoum, especially on water services, the state’s emergency crisis committee has endorsed using solar power to operate groundwater wells.
Khartoum government spokesperson Al-Tayeb Saad El-Din said the state will rely on solar energy to light streets and government buildings, following the looting of all underground power cables. He described this as an emergency, temporary solution until the traditional grid is restored.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) pledged to implement sustainable solar power solutions in health centers and hospitals. The program also plans to assist with electrical system repairs in coordination with local utility departments.
During a field visit to assess the damage to hospitals in Khartoum State, the UNDP called on UN agencies to contribute to the rehabilitation of the Tropical Diseases Hospital and the Kidney Dialysis Center, both critical to treating patients with TB, AIDS, and kidney conditions.
Devastation and Opportunities
Sudan Electricity Company reported massive damage to the sector’s infrastructure in transmission, generation, and distribution, citing repeated drone strikes as the main cause of delays in restoring power.
Engineer Mohamed Abu Al-Rajel, Deputy Director of the Sudan Electricity Holding Company, stated that the war has severely harmed the electricity sector. He emphasized that solar energy is currently the quickest solution to meet urgent needs for water, lighting, and irrigation.
At a renewable energy workshop in Port Sudan, he outlined a national plan to expand renewable energy across all states and called for partnerships with the private sector on ambitious green energy projects.
Hundreds of Solar Units Deployed
In Gezira State, many villages have turned to solar energy to run drinking water stations for people and livestock. The Umm Al-Qura platform reported that a shipment of solar panels was delivered to a local government facility to power water systems.
Acting Minister of Urban Planning and Public Utilities Abu Bakr Abdullah announced the installation of 267 solar units to operate water stations across districts, the activation of 22 public facilities and six power grids, and the full restoration of Wad Madani’s main water station.
These new electricity and water projects aim to help normalize life under exceptional conditions.
Just three years ago, Sudan ranked fifth among Arab countries in clean electricity capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), as cited by Energy Platform.
Critical Need
Economic analyst and lecturer Mohamed El-Nair stressed that Sudan urgently needs to harness solar energy, especially for residential and agricultural sectors. He called on the government to adopt bold policies, including removing all customs duties and taxes on solar imports, and capping private sector profit margins. He also proposed creating a public company to import solar cells and provide them at affordable prices.
El-Nair acknowledged that while the upfront cost of solar systems can be high, they offer virtually cost-free operation for 5 to 10 years. He urged banks to offer microfinance options to help citizens and small producers acquire solar systems, with easy repayment terms and low interest as part of their social responsibility.
He also mentioned that about a decade ago, Sudan had started building a solar panel assembly plant in Soba, which was later halted for unknown reasons. With some of the world’s highest-quality silica—abundantly available in North Kordofan’s Bara and the Nile River region—Sudan could move from assembly to full-scale manufacturing.
A Sector Under Strain
Even before the war, Sudan’s energy sector faced major challenges in providing sufficient electricity to a population of around 43 million. These included inadequate infrastructure and issues with generation and distribution, leading to frequent outages.
In 2022, Sudan’s total power generation capacity stood at about 2,799 megawatts, while national demand was approximately 3,800 megawatts—leaving a deficit of nearly 1,000 megawatts.
Merowe Dam remains Sudan’s largest water reservoir and the most stable source of electricity, operating year-round with 10 turbines generating a total of 1,250 megawatts. It is monitored and controlled remotely from the national control center in Khartoum.
