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South Sudan seeks outside help as it aims to power up

10th November 2017

By: John Muchira

Creamer Media Correspondent

     

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South Sudan is seeking foreign funding and investment in the energy sector to meet pent-up demand for electricity.

Despite being endowed with vast oil and gas reserves and massive potential to generate electricity from hydro, solar and wind sources, the country largely depends on expensive diesel generators for its power needs.

The country has limited energy generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and the majority of its citizens have never seen a light bulb, particularly the 83% who live in rural areas.

“Despite the abundant resources available for power generation, we require adequate funding in the form of investment to develop energy infrastructure to achieve a reliable and cheap power supply and meet our socioeconomic and development needs,” says Energy Minister Dr Dhieu Mathok Ding Wol.

South Sudan, which is Africa’s newest State and is classified among the most underdeveloped countries of the world, is banking on international development partners and foreign investors to finance the envisaged energy projects.

Only 1% of its population has access to electricity from mini grids, which have a capacity of 22 MW, with the rest depending on firewood, charcoal and kerosene, while industries and other businesses depend on self-generation using diesel generators.

South Sudan’s current electricity demand of an estimated 300 MW is expected to increase at a rate of 7% a year to 1 400 MW by 2030, and the country has identified several electricity generation projects for which it desperately needs financing.

These include six hydropower projects with a total capacity of 2 125 MW, with the flagship being the Grand Fula hydropower plant, on the Nile, with a capacity of between 890 MW and 1 080 MW.

Although the South Sudan government contracted consultancy firm SMEC to undertake a feasibility study on the project, the firm has refused to hand over the final document, owing to the nonpayment of fees, highlighting the country’s cash squeeze.

“The Grand Fula hydropower project is a priority project because it is easy to develop and its power will be enough to meet the development needs of South Sudan in the short term,” states Wol.

While insecurity and political instability continue to keep investors and financiers away, the South Sudan government is optimistic that electricity imports from neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia will help tackle immediate challenges.

The African Development Bank has committed to financing the feasibility study for a 400 kV transmission line connecting Uganda and South Sudan. A feasibility study is also being conducted on a 220 kV transmission line between South Sudan and Sudan, while funding is being sought to undertake a study on a 220 kV line connecting the country with Ethiopia.

 

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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