In 2023, Sudan’s supplied electricity figures totaled about 17 TWh, with roughly 70% coming from low-carbon sources and 30% from fossil fuels. Hydropower dominated clean electricity production, providing 11.5 TWh out of the 11.75 TWh low-carbon total, while fossil fuels supplied 5 TWh. Despite this substantial clean share, electricity consumption was just 352 kWh per person—less than one-tenth of the global average of 3,794 kWh. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, irrigation and industrial production, while making it harder to expand businesses and provide reliable household services.

Is Electricity Growing in Sudan?

Sudan’s latest per-person figures show a disappointing retreat rather than growth toward new records. Electricity consumption in 2023 was about 35 kWh per person below the 2021 peak of 388 kWh, a decline of roughly 9%. Low-carbon electricity generation also slipped, reaching 235 kWh per person compared with its 2022 record of 244 kWh—a fall of 9 kWh, or about 4%. These figures describe per-person performance rather than necessarily a decline in total national generation, but they underline the need to expand clean electricity supply to support development and future electrification.

Suggestions

Sudan can increase low-carbon electricity generation by expanding solar alongside its existing hydropower, strengthening electricity networks and developing storage. Sunny regions provide useful examples: Pakistan generates 41 TWh from solar, while the United Arab Emirates produces 14 TWh—both exceeding Sudan’s entire current low-carbon output. Sudan could learn from their solar deployment and investment approaches, including opportunities for distributed systems serving communities and essential services. Wind should also be assessed at suitable sites, drawing lessons from South Africa’s 12 TWh of wind generation. Nuclear deserves consideration as a longer-term source of dependable clean electricity: the United Arab Emirates generates 32 TWh from nuclear and Pakistan 22 TWh. Their experience offers lessons in workforce training, institutional development and international partnerships. Together, solar, wind and nuclear could help Sudan expand electricity access while limiting fossil-fuel air pollution and climate impacts.

History

Sudan’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is overwhelmingly a story of hydropower. Changes were modest from the early 1980s through the mid-2000s, with occasional gains of 0.1–0.2 TWh and small declines. Expansion accelerated sharply in 2009–2010, when annual increases of 1.8 TWh and 3 TWh were recorded, followed by further growth through 2014, including a substantial 1.7 TWh gain in 2013. Setbacks in 2015 and 2016 reduced generation by a combined 0.9 TWh, but growth resumed from 2017 through 2020, adding 3 TWh across those years. Another 0.9 TWh increase in 2022 was followed by a disappointing 0.3 TWh decline in 2023, reinforcing the importance of sustained investment and a broader clean electricity mix.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade