An official in the mining sector has revealed that Sudan spends around $300 million annually on importing iodized salt, despite having the natural resources needed to produce it locally.
Ahmed Haroun Al-Toum, Director of the Geological Research Authority, stated that “despite Sudan’s long coastline, the country imports iodized salt worth up to $300 million each year,” underscoring the urgent need for investment in the sector.
He also announced efforts by the authority to localize salt production and reduce the import bill, including the procurement of a salt iodization plant from Spain at an estimated cost of €1.85 million, with a production capacity of up to 10 tons per hour.
Al-Toum explained that the salt production project began as a research idea in 2023 and moved into implementation in 2024. It is expected to generate profits exceeding €2 million in its first year of operation, rising to €7 million by the seventh year.
