Electricity in South Sudan in 2023
In 2023, electricity consumption per person in South Sudan stood at around 51 kWh, which is substantially below the global average of 3781 kWh/person. This figure is a stark indication of the significant gap in electricity access faced by the country. As a result, many South Sudanese rely heavily on traditional energy sources, leading to potential issues such as poor air quality and increased health risks due to the use of fossil fuels. The current energy mix is overwhelmingly dominated by fossil energy, with close to none of the electricity generation attributable to low-carbon sources, only about 3 kWh per person. This limited access to clean energy exacerbates vulnerabilities related to climate change impacts and impedes economic development, posing a major challenge for sustainable growth in the region.
Is Electricity Growing in South Sudan?
Electricity consumption trends in South Sudan indicate a worrying stagnation. The peak consumption of 54 kWh/person was recorded in 2018, just slightly higher than the current level, meaning there has been a decrease over the years. Low-carbon electricity generation has remained almost unchanged, slipping slightly from 4 kWh/person in 2022 to the current 3 kWh/person. This stagnation in low-carbon energy utilization, particularly with clean technologies like solar and potentially nuclear, signals challenges in developing sustainable electricity infrastructure. The lack of growth over recent years is a critical concern that could further widen the energy access gap compared to global progress in low-carbon energy adoption.
Suggestions
Encouragingly, South Sudan can look towards successful regions that have harnessed the potential of low-carbon energy, specifically solar and nuclear. For instance, China and the United States have pioneered wind and solar technologies, generating 834 TWh and 303 TWh, respectively, in solar energy alone. These examples show the promising potential of solar power, which South Sudan could emulate given its sunny climate. Similarly, nuclear power, successfully implemented in countries like France and the US, offers a stable and large-scale clean energy source. Developing these technologies could substantially increase South Sudan's electricity generation capacity while mitigating the adverse effects of fossil fuel use.
History
Throughout the last decade, South Sudan's low-carbon electricity generation has seen no significant progress, with solar energy generation remaining consistently at zero TWh each year from 2013 through 2023. This lack of development is disappointing as other regions have shown the immense potential of solar energy. It suggests that South Sudan has yet to tap into its solar resources fully, missing opportunities for sustainable growth. Embracing the successful models of countries with advanced solar and nuclear programs could pave the way for South Sudan to improve its energy sector, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and enhance electricity access for its population.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.