Sudan expands solar energy projects to ease power crisis

The Sudanese government has announced a set of measures to support solar energy projects as part of efforts to address the country’s ongoing electricity shortages, Al Arabiya Business reported on May 19.

The drive toward solar energy comes as Sudan seeks more sustainable and decentralised solutions to its electricity crisis, while also expanding regional cooperation in energy infrastructure.

Energy Minister Mutasim Ibrahim Ahmed said the country is encouraging investment in solar power by approving enabling legislation, exempting imported inputs from customs duties, and providing bank financing to attract private sector participation. He added that the initial focus will be on meeting the needs of the agriculture and residential sectors.

The government is also working on measures to stabilise the national electricity grid, with particular attention to challenges in the Northern State. In parallel, officials reviewed progress on a planned solar power plant expected to generate 10MW. The efforts also covered the provision of a dedicated transformer for the Northern State, monitoring of a thermal power station project, and electricity interconnection projects with neighbouring Egypt.

Finance Minister of the Northern State Amir Hassan al-Bashir said the stable electricity supply is critical for enhancing agricultural production and ensuring food security, as well as supporting hospitals and healthcare services affected by frequent power outages.

Sudan's long-term renewable energy plan aims to scale up non-hydro green energy to 14% of its power mix by 2033, targeting the development of 3.3GW of utility-scale solar, wind, and distributed mini-grid systems. Recent international initiatives like the World Bank's ASCENT-Sudan project are helping mobilise private investment to deploy solar infrastructure for critical water, healthcare, and agricultural networks.