By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai
South
Sudan with a population of about 11 million is facing challenges to build a
strong economy. Industrialization and modernization cannot be achieved without proper
access to electricity. Today, every ninth out of ten South Sudanese are without
access to electricity and this makes South Sudan either rural or remote regions
with no access to modern energy services. Access to modern energy services for
South Sudan is defined as household access to electricity and clean cooking
facilities. Electricity service is then characterized by poor infrastructures,
frequent power breaks, lack of spare parts, and lack of technical
persons.
Because
of its direct socio-economic and environmental benefits, access to modern
energy services for cooking, lighting, and ICT seems to become a social,
political, and economic priority to South Sudanese households and policymakers.
In addition to its indirect benefits, modern energy services should be
considered an important factor in growth in the country as well. Instead of
recognition of this fact, progress remains slow as government and private
sectors lack funds for the substantial investments needed for electrification.
Further, household budgets are often too small to pay full cost recovering
connection fees and tariffs.
The
previously installed capacity of electric power was about 26.8 MW. This
electric power was divided amongst six of South Sudanese towns: Juba (12 MW),
Malakal (4.8 MW), Wau (4 MW), Bor (2 MW), Yambio (2 MW) and Rumbek (2 MW).
However, this amount of power needs to be increased to at least 230 MW.
Further, Juba at the moment needs at least 80 MW whereas, the rest of 5 towns
need at least 150 MW.
Electricity
is produced by South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) from thermal sources
with diesel being the only available fossil fuel used for electricity
generation. Electricity was strictly supplied to industrial or commercial
users in which there were no transmission grids existed, except that operating
in Northern Upper Nile State to only supply electric power to central oilfield
facilities.
Due
to common breaks of electric power and shortage of diesel, citizens,
commercials users, health centers, schools, non-governmental organizations, and
even government are shifting to electricity-based solar panels. It looks like
solar energy systems can make relatively good business in Juba and other areas
in South Sudan.
On
November 21, 2019, a breakthrough occurred when a 100 MW Juba Power Plant was
launched by the President of the Republic Salva Kiir Mayardit that will supply
electricity to Juba and other surrounding areas. The Plant which started its
construction at the Gondokoro area the eastern Nile in 2017 will first supply
33 MW before completion in 2021 by Eritrean Ezra Company Limited. The Power
Distribution Grid Project funded by the African Development Bank has as well
started together with the launching of the Plant.
For
the first time in history, South Sudan will have power girds to distribute
electricity to customers. Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) and
Ezra as well as the SSEC are operating Juba's new grid. Therefore, access to
electricity service has gradually improved and increased to 5% but only in Juba
city. The two projects, Juba Power Plant and Distribution Grid cost 290 million
and 38 million respectively. Since these projects are still under construction
Ezra will continue to operate Juba Power Plant for the next 17 years.
South
Sudan is rich with renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar, wind,
geothermal, and biomass. Usually, hydropower plants have a low operation cost,
however, their initial costs are high. The potential of hydropower plant
capacity is estimated to stand at 5583 MW. This immediately potentialized the
construction of a dam for electricity generation and water irrigation at Nimule
town bordering Uganda. There are as well small scales hydro sites in Baher el
Ghazal for stand-alone electric generation.
Initially
and according to the United Nations, there are levels of the quantity of
electricity required to meet our daily basic needs.
–
First, Base Level (50-100 kWh):
This
electricity is used to supply basic needs such as cooking, heating, lighting,
communication, healthcare, and education
–
Second, Productive Level (500 kWh):
This
energy is used to improve productivity for instance, water pumping for
irrigation, fertilizer manufacture, mechanized tilling, agricultural processing,
cottage industry, and transport fuel
–
Third, West Level (2000 kWh):
Standards
of those living in the West required to the number of domestic appliances
increased demands for cooling and heating (space and water) and private
transportation
–
Unclassified Level (16 kWh):
Standard
use in South Sudanese to meet daily basic needs per person. This quantity of
electricity is insufficient and substantially less than neighboring countries
to meet the basic needs.
The
following are recommendations to be considered for sustainable electricity
generation and supply in South Sudan:
–
Incorporate other primary energy sources to the electricity mix and support the
government plan to divert some crude oil into electricity generation
–
Identify hydropower sites to construct dams for electricity generations and
water irrigation system
–
Attain and promote the further possibility of obtaining international funding
and expertise with which to build the electricity sector and incorporate
renewable energy
–
Develop an electricity sector which can be well-integrated with neighboring
grids so that the country can become a net electricity exporter
–
Also, allow for the import of electricity which serves to facilitate access
and the security of electricity supply
If
such electricity is produced via renewables (predominately hydropower) then
more quantities of crude oil could be exported, strengthening its position as a
net energy exporter and using profits to further develop and integrate other
types of infrastructure connections with other countries. Also, and for all
the above, any electrification project is harmonized across the various government
levels and non-governmental bodies – from the city and municipalities to the
counties down to the Payams and Bomas.
