What is a solar power plant in South Sudan?

Image: The recently launched 20MW solar energy plant in South Sudan. Credit: Ezra Group A public-private partnership in South Sudan has launched the country’s first major solar power plant and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the capital Juba, where it is expected to provide electricity to thousands of homes.

What is the grid-based electricity situation in South Sudan?

At present, the grid-based electricity situation in South Sudan is characterized by routine power outages and lack of efficiency in the distribution system . In fact, in 2020, 580 GWh or nearly 100 % of electricity was produced from oil and gas, and just 1 GWh from renewable sources .

Does South Sudan have a decentralized power system?

Most decentralized power systems in South Sudan are operated by private companies, NGOs and humanitarian organizations in South Sudan. In assessing the capacity of the off-grid electricity in terms of Megawatt (MW), the kVA rating of the generators and the power factor were taken into consideration.

Why is South Sudan struggling to get electricity?

Despite having an abundance of energy resources, particularly fossil fuels, South Sudan struggles to give its citizens access to electricity. The long period of historical neglect of the region by the Sudanese government before independence and the recent conflict, is the primary cause of the current energy challenges.

What is the future of electricity in South Sudan?

According to recent projections, in the long term, the demand for electricity in South Sudan could grow to 1400 MW by 2030. In sum, the fundamental challenge for South Sudan is to build new public service infrastructure and refurbish depleted water, energy, transportation, and communication systems.

What is the energy trilemma in South Sudan?

In short, the South Sudanese scenario thus adds two additional factors to the energy trilemma- the resource curse and the need to consolidate power through national energy projects. In the rest of the article we discuss the case within the context of the post-conflict literature, while not losing sight of the unique aspects of the country.