Electricity in South Sudan in 2023
In 2023, electricity consumption in South Sudan is very limited, with each person using approximately 51 kWh each year. This figure is significantly lower than the global average of around 3,813 kWh per person, indicating a vast room for growth in South Sudan’s electricity infrastructure. Clean energy, a sustainable route for future development, represents only a small fraction of total electricity consumption, with close to no generation coming from low-carbon sources like solar and nuclear power. This low level of electricity generation affects the overall development of the country, potentially hindering social welfare improvements, economic growth, and educational opportunities. It also limits the potential for technological advancements and sustainability in various sectors due to unreliable or insufficient electricity access.
Is Electricity Growing in South Sudan?
The prospects for growth in electricity consumption in South Sudan appear challenging, as evidenced by a slight reduction from its peak of 54 kWh/person in 2018 to 51 kWh/person in 2023. Low-carbon electricity generation also lags, maintaining a minimal presence without real growth, decreasing slightly from 4 kWh/person in 2022 to 3 kWh/person in 2023. These stagnations underline an urgent need to re-evaluate energy policies and investments to stimulate growth in both overall electricity consumption and the adoption of clean electricity sources, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for the nation.
Suggestions
To bolster low-carbon electricity generation, South Sudan could learn from successful examples of countries with thriving solar initiatives. For instance, India and South Africa have made noteworthy strides in increasing their solar electricity generations to 134 TWh and 20 TWh, respectively. Emphasizing solar energy could be highly advantageous for South Sudan due to its abundant sunlight. Furthermore, a look at France's nearly 379 TWh generation from nuclear power highlights another avenue for achieving substantial clean electricity generation. South Sudan can gain valuable insights from these countries by implementing supportive policies and investment incentives that encourage the adoption and development of solar and nuclear energy technologies, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change and air pollution.
History
Since 2013, South Sudan has not seen any progress in low-carbon electricity generation, with solar power remaining stagnant, yielding zero change in electricity production year after year. This lack of development indicates a pressing need for policy shifts and investments in solar power systems. By drawing inspiration from more successful nations and harnessing the country’s natural solar resources, South Sudan could break this cycle of stagnation. Similarly, exploration into nuclear energy, which has driven substantial clean energy advancements in numerous countries, could potentially transform the energy landscape. Such efforts would pave the way for meeting the country’s growing demand for electricity while fostering sustainable development and environmental protection.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.