Challenges of established 28 states in South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

In the last article titled “the economic benefits of newly established 28 states” we discussed the economic benefits of 28 states. We reviewed with detailed the available natural resources in each state and how to enhance them. Potential result was that jobs will be created as industries are established. The projection then showed that economic situation will be improved gradually with production adaptation.

In this article, we will discuss the challenges that are facing each state so as to establish a strong economic and creation of jobs and income generation.

Security has widely proved as the main challenge and priority of each state in South Sudan. Many disputes have already appeared between different states. To pick some examples, dispute between Eastern Nile State and Western Nile State (now Fashoda State)Tonj State, Raja State etc. However, the serious one was still and that between Fashoda State and Eastern Nile State. Precisely, the dispute was focusing on Malakal identity the largest town in Upper Nile region. 

Many reviewed 28 states as ethnic based established states, therefore, something group have already started demanded separate states. Sometimes, the rivalry between different ethnic groups went destruction rather than constructive in one state.

It is expected that the current number of 28 states will increase, since many applications are already lying on the President Office desk. It looks like most of these applications if not all of them will be accepted.

The absent of transportation network, such as roads, adequate airports, river transportation placed a real challenge on development spark. Telecommunications and internet network is not less important than transportation network. This make it difficult to goods mobility between states as well as deepened and increase security challenge across states.

Modernization started with proper access to electricity. Electricity access across South Sudan states is characterized with poor quality or not available at all. It is not possible to established industries without electric power.

A committee to be formed mainly to disputes states to address their problems. The committee may include experts (foreigners) to identify and demarcate borders between states, local leaders from disputes states, security experts, etc.

To start, each state should first give priority to road network construction. If each state does so, a whole country will be connected with paved roads.

Each state may start enhancing their energy resource to build electric power station. Some states, such as that of eastern part of Equatoria and far western Bahr el Ghazal states have hydro-power sites which can be used to build mini-hydro-power plants. Upper Nile states could enhance crude oil to produce electricity. Then after, the national grid will be ringed from these network.

All South Sudanese should now work to restore peace. This will secure free mind to think properly toward development. This is a collective work to each citizen at his/her location to contribute and bring our country to calm and safety. 

Mathew Mading Riak (1936-2001)

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Pilot and police officer

Madding was born in 1936 in Aher Village, Yirol, Lakes District, Bahr el Ghazal. He was baptized Mathew in school, but he rarely used his Christian name. After finishing Loka Intermediate in July 1953, he went to Rumbek Secondary School in 1954. In 1959, he had no problem escaping to Ethiopia via Nasir in Upper Nile. In Ethiopia he was trained as a pilot with the Ethiopia Air Force. Madding Riak was the first Southern Sudanese to fly an airplane.

However, in 1964 Captain Mading Riak returned to Khartoum on the invitation of Hassan Abbas, the Sudanese minister of defence. He immediately returned to Ethiopia, where he was discovered as a South Sudanese and was deported to Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam he continued his journey to Congo. In Congo, in order to acquire weapons for the Anya nay rebels, Mathew Mading Riak and some other young Southern Sudanese men decided to join the Belgium Congo army as mercenaries. Prime Minister Moise Tshombe of Congo appointed Mathew Mading Riak as a Captain in the Congolese army.

The Anya nay was so desperate for weapons that they decided to join the Congolese army as mercenaries in their fight against the Simba (lion) rebels. The Congolese rebels received enormous armament supplies in late 1964 from many countries, including Tanzania, China, the Soviet Union, Egypt, and Congo-Brazzaville. This armament was channeled through Sudan.

A year later, Mading Riak was among many young Southern Sudanese students offered scholarships to go to the United States and continue their studies. After completing a preparatory course at Lincoln University (1965-66), he was offered a place to study history at the Ohio State University in 1967. In the United States he worked as a flight instructor for a private aviation company in California until 1973. Captain Mading Riak has also participated in Vietnam War as mercenary a US army pilot.  He was shut down and missing for 14 days but found alive.

In 1973 Captain Mading Riak returned to the Sudan hoping to join Sudan Airways, but instead he took up instructor assignment with East African Airways in Soroti, Uganda. He finally returned to Sudan in 1974 and joined the High Executive Council, HEC’s general secretariat as a pilot for the HEC until the dawn of the kokora in June 1983. In the distribution of the regional government’s assets, the plane was allotted to Upper Nile, but as a citizen of Yirol, Captain Mading Riak went to Bahr el Ghazal. In 1986, on the request of Mathew Obur, the president of the Southern Council in Khartoum, Captain Mading Riak was appointed as a police officer. He had a police officer’s training course, was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel, and was assigned to the council.

The president of the council had planned to procure a plane for his administration. Mading Riak progressed in the police force to the rank of brigadier in 1992, when he was purged by the National Islamic Front, NIF’s regime. Mading decided to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, SPLA in 1997. In the movement he volunteered as a teacher at Mapuordit School. He died at home in Yirol in July 2001.

Adopted from:

Kuyuk A, (2015). South Sudan the Notable Firsts, pp. (367-368). Author House, UK    

Open letter to President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar

The current security and disturbing economic situation has moved me to share the following opinion with you.

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Sudan, you have lived your previous life as a freedom fighter for the four decades of the struggle and you have never for some reason left the movement. As the First Vice President of the Sudan and successor to our late leader Dr. John Garang de Mabior, you keep working for South Sudan to become an independent state. Indeed, South Sudan became Free State by July 9, 2011 and you became the first President of the newest nation in the world.

By the end of the year 2013, fighting broke out in Juba. Many innocent people lost their lives when you and the First Vice President went through a serious disagreement on how to rule and govern the country.

Your Excellency, the First Vice President, you joined your colleagues as a freedom fighter. You disagreed with our late leader Dr. John Grarang de Mabior on how to lead the movement as a result many lost their lives. You have changed the pace of your struggle many times until we became a free nation by July 2011.

You went through a terrible disagreement with your comrade the President of the Republic and so many innocent lives are lost. However, both of you signed a peace agreement by August 2015 as a result, you became the First Vice President.

On July 8, 2016 your guards and the President guards started shooting outside the presidential palace while you are at a meeting with the President. The shooting developed into a bigger clashes and extended to a base camp under your command at Jebel area. As a result, the camp has been destroyed by Monday 11, 2016.

During your differences and disagreement, the conflict usually takes ethnic’s dimension, which prove the conflict was misinterpreted from its root causes as a political differences in the party. Unfortunately, different ethnics groups are moved and a country’s security has been deteriorated.

As the heads of the state, the current insecurity and a very challenging economic situation which started by December 15, 2013 and the last incident of July 8, 2016 were absolutely your responsibility.

In the past twenty four month of your disagreement, money has been spent on war and the economy keep going down. The economy continue to dropping to a level our currency has been floated, still the situation is not improving and the employees were not able to receive their salaries.

As a citizen of this country under your leadership, I pledge both of you to put the interest of our country above all interests. I am crying out to our beloved country and the highest level of hatred it has reached. This extreme hostility we practising must to stop. 

In spite of the last incident, the peace agreement signed by both of you in August 2015 could be implemented. However, the two armies has proved its failure and cannot protect the peace agreement. Deployment of additional African Union (AU) troops from regional countries would escalate the security situation. Another mechanism to protect peace and the citizens need to be determined. 

Yours Sincerely 

Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

The Economic Benefits of Newly Established States in South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

After the President of the Republic Salva Kiir Mayardid, announced the redraw of South Sudan into 28 states, there were mixed opinions. However, the most asking question is, where to get the fund and resources to support the newly established states? This is what I am attempting to answer in term of economic benefits herein. The study is based on the 28 newly established states. Review of available natural resources, industry and economic benefits as well as electricity supply service in South Sudan are discussed. 

South Sudan is rich of natural resources such as oil and mining, fertile land, water, forestry, fishery, and livestock. All of these resources are not yet used, except the oil in Ruweng State, Eastern Upper Nile State and Northern Lich State where, it is operational. The oil exploration maps show unconfirmed reserve of oil from Gogrial State to Twic State and Western Lakes State, and from Eastern Lakes State to Southern Lich State through up to Western Upper Nile State and Latjur State. But there is a confirmed oil reserve discovered in Jonglei State, Boma State, Western Bieh State, Eastern Bieh State and Abyei area. The reserve oil in Jonglei State, Boma State, Western Bieh State and Eastern Bieh State is ready for production when peace and security are restored. However, Abyei stills a dispute area between two countries, South Sudan and Sudan. Currently, oil revenue makes up 98% of the country’s national budget. There are available mining resources such as Gold in Kapeota, Copper in Hofrat el Nahas, Yambio, Kapoeta, Wau and Rumbek. Ironstone plateau is available from Aweil State to Aweil East State and from Wau State to Lol State and Bodudwe State. Ironstone is also available through Maridi State to Gogriel State and Twic State and from Tonj State to Gok State to Western Lakes State to Eastern Lakes State.

Different types of crops, vegetables and fruits are available throughout all states while, Rice crop is available in Aweil states. Oil seeds, oil palm and roots crops are available in most of the Baher el Ghazal States, Upper Nile States and Equatoria States. Tea, coffee and tobacco are available in Greater Equatoria States. Teak and Mahogany trees are available in Baher El Ghazal and Equatoria States. Acacia (gum) are available from the Eastern Upper Nile State to Western Upper Nile State and Latjur State, and from Gogrial State to Twic State and Tonj State, then from Aweil State to Aweil East State. Bee keeping for honey production is available from Bodudwe State to Maridi State and Eastern Upper Nile State, while cotton crop is available from Nzara, to Mangala and from Manyo to Renk.  

The livestock is available from Eastern Upper Nile State to Western Upper Nile State and Latjur State, and from Greater Bahr el Ghazal States to Imatong State and Nyamonong State to Terekekka State and Juba State. Bodudwe State, Maridi State, Maban in Eastern Nile State are fame of pigs’ livestock. Fish is available along the rivers, lakes and around Sudd areas. Eastern Upper Nile State, Western Upper Nile State and Latjur State and from Eastern Lakes State to Jonglei State and Yei River State to Juba State are fame of fish availability. 

 There is a high potential of establishment of various industries based on available natural resources. The food production, from drinking water and other soft drinks to alcoholic drinks, fruit and vegetable industries can be established in the all states. Dairy and meat production are the main industries opportunities in Eastern Upper Nile State, Western Upper Nile State and Latjur State, Bahr el Ghazal States, Imatong State and Nyamonong State. Fish industry can also be established in Malakal, Bor, Yirol and Terekeka. Mining based industry can be built in Kapoeta, Raja, Wau, Yambio or in Rumbek. The suitable areas for cooking oil, soap and flour milling industries are Eastern Upper Nile State, Western Upper Nile State and Latjur State, Bodudwe State and Maridi State. In the operational oilfields areas, the petrochemical industries for olefins (including ethylene and propylene) and aromatics (including benzene, toluene and xylene isomers) can also be established. The Kenaf industry is suggested in Tonj for packaging materials production, paper production from Papyrus in Sudd area and Jonglei State, the sugarcane industries in Melut and Mangal. The cotton and textile industry can be established in Mangala, Manyo, Renk and Nzara.

Horns, hooves, skins, and leather production, animal feeds mills and veterinary pharmaceutical industries can be established in the biggest towns of South Sudan. Fabrication of doors and windows frames, gates shelves and production of metal water tanks can be produced in the all states. Tourism industry is also another area of interest, for instance, in Nimule, Sudd area and other places throughout the country.

Modernization starts with proper access to efficient energy services. There is a huge energy resources in South Sudan for electricity generation. For instance, hydropower and solar energy resources can be used to generate electricity. Crude oil from oil producing areas is another viable source for electricity generation. The hydropower sites are available from Imatong State to Nyamonong State and Amadi State, and from Juba State to Wau State and Eastern Lakes State to Western Lakes State, and from Maridi State to Bodudwe State and Yei River State. The current electric power is supplied by diesel based generation which characterized with poor infrastructure, lack of spare parts, maintenance and lack of technical persons. Fula dam near Numlei town, is the biggest project to generate electricity with capacity of more than 500 MW. There is a site near to Juba City with capacity of about 130 MW for electricity generation and supply. The feasibility studies of these projects and others are done, but lack fund.

The natural resources such oil and gas, water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy (renewables), Gold, Copper and Ironstone are proved to be available in South Sudan. The industry opportunity and economic benefits have the high potential to occur as soon as possible since the peace and security are restored. The creation of jobs and many other economic activities such as trading will start to emerge. The generation of income will develop self-independent amongst the people of South Sudan. The number of people applying for government based jobs will be decreasing, because private sectors are growing. Therefore, the investment opportunities will start to focus on the States with the investment and development maps.

The proposed established industries create economic opportunities first, for the citizens of their locations and indeed to the entire people of South Sudan. The willingness of the people of each State to utilize the resources is the biggest support to themselves and to their States. The country is developed by its hard working and committed citizens. South Sudan is blessed with natural resources and let us not proved the say that “natural resources is a curse”. 

Asylum Seekers Crossing to Europe through Mediterranean

The current death of people from Middle East and Africa in Mediterranean crossing to Europe have caused disturbing and worried to European governments. It has become a debating issue by politicians and indeed by the humanitarian organizations as well. These people mainly African by the beginning of the 17^th Century were forced to travel to Europe as slaves but now their passports and travel documents of the origin countries are extremely restricted for visa grant to European airports.  

The 1951 Convention on refugee status lists a refugee’s rights such as freedom of religion and movement, the right to work, education and access to travel documents. The convention clearly stated that refugee should not be returned, to a country where he or she fears persecution. Therefore, a refugee is a person who fled his/her country of origin residing and has experienced persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. Thus, refugees are forced to leave their countries of origins because of the threat of persecution and cannot return safely to their homes.

Governments are responsible to protect the basic human rights of their citizens. When they felt to do so during conflicts or civil wars, people flee their homes to a second country, where they may be granted a refugee status. The host countries are primarily responsible for protecting refugees and the other third parties countries. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, (UNHCR) maintains intervening to ensure legal refugees are granted asylum and are not forcibly returned to countries where their lives may be in danger. The agency seeks ways to help refugees restart their lives, either through local integration, voluntary return to their homeland or, if that is not possible, through resettlement in ‘third’ countries.

According to the 1951 Convention on refugee status, those who are now crossing to Europe through Mediterranean are classified as Illegal refugees. Therefore, they are not entitled to a refugee’s rights including freedom of movement, the right to work, education and accessibility to travel documents. They have never made the requirements of a refugee status and it has become very complicated to deal with the situation which is just in the blink of eye.

Some of the European Union states members, from the Southern Europe, Germany, and France are calling other states members to take refugees. Some of these refuges crossing Mediterranean may arrived to Scandinavian countries. Scandinavian have relatively less number of refugees in Europe. A very restricted and tough immigration roles are set by some European states members. The anti-immigrant becomes obvious in many European countries as well. The economic crisis too, has an effect on the immigration procedures. For instance, in Finland since 2010 the immigration procedures are made very tough and restricted. The living standard in Finland and in other Scandinavian is one of the highest in the world. The government of Finland is putting much fund on social welfare. New regulations stated that the income to be checked before inviting any member to Finland for either Finnish or Foreigners. For instance, 1700 EUR is the fixed amount of net income relevant to invite one person to Finland and it increases with number of invite members. However, in other Scandinavians countries, such as in Sweden, immigration procedures are little bit flexible. With permanent address and social or unemployment benefits income are enough to invite people of your family members.

I was a former refugee in Egypt and in Finland. I left Sudan (Khartoum) by April 2002 to Egypt (Cairo) where I was seeking an asylum. Shortly, at the end of the 2002, I was granted a refugee status under the article 1 of the 1951 convention on refugee status. I was experiencing persecution because of the membership in a particular social group in Sudan. By February 2013, I joined the UNHCR as a volunteer helping the interviewers interpreting refugees’ cases from local South Sudanese languages into English or Arabic. I was also helping on counselling new refugees’ arriving at the gate as well issuing cards to accepted refugees. Many refugees were expecting to be resettled to a third country mainly North America (US & Canada), Australia or to Europe. Indeed some of them made it to those countries but some are locally resettled at the second country. When the Sudan Peace Agreement signed by 2005, many have returned home. I was granted a permanent resident and by March, 2004, I reached Finland. By the end of the 2011, I returned home.

Usually, refugees reached to a third country with the highest ambitious expecting their lives change dramatically. Their ambitious is to find a job however, they are faced with the reality at their new home of residence. The first thing they made is integration into a new society that differs theirs. They are as well faced with unemployment problems where they struggling to learn to gain professional skills to help them to find a job. Some end up frustrated doing nothing. It never worked out as they thought and integration has never easy for them. As long they stay they gradually adopt the system and many become citizens of their residence countries. However, most of them return homes when crisis or wars end at their countries of origins.

The best way to solve those refugees problems is to bring peace into their countries of origins. Their countries are unwilling to protect them because they turned threats to their governments. Numbers of illegal refugees are now at European doors, it is no way obligations of hosting countries and other European governments to tackle their problems. The humanitarian organization, the UNHCR and other United Nations (UN) sections have the same obligations to play. The governments of countries where the refugees are fleeing from, need not to be left with political instability, international community need to help them bring stability and peace into their countries. The world has become as one village, thanks for the globalization, and the problem at your neighbor’s door, is your tomorrow problem.

How to Overcome Energy Poverty in South Sudan

By Ater Yuoit R. Amogpai

It is the fact that today there are still millions of South Sudanese without access to electricity or clean cooking facilities. The ambitious goals that have to eradicate extreme poverty can never be fully realised without acknowledging and confronting this fact. In addition, the South Sudanese people should be aware of the close relationship between development and access to modern energy services. Access to modern energy services for South Sudan is defined as household access to electricity and clean cooking facilities. Electrical devices that include lights, TVs, fans, refrigerators, washing machines, and electric irons are connected to electricity supply. Cooking facilities include clean cooking fuels and stove, advanced biomass cookstoves and biogas systems. To help support action and policy making in this area, the South Sudan Energy Agency (SSEA) should be established.

The mandate of this agency is to promote energy security amongst people of South Sudan and to advice on energy policy. Thus, SSEA should have to pool its resources and expertise to produce reports about energy progress in South Sudan each year. South Sudanese policy makers need hard, qualitative information and analysis to help making critical decisions regarding the welfare of its citizens. With this in mind, the number of people that lack access to modern energy services in South Sudan can be quantified and the investment costs required meeting this gap.

Two indicators of energy poverty at the household level in South Sudan are realised: the lack of access to electricity and the reliance on the traditional use of biomass for cooking. Roughly, in South Sudan the electrification rate is the lowest in Africa and the number of people relying on the traditional use of biomass is more than 90%: this is the greatest challenge. It is expected that the number of South Sudanese relying on biomass will rise in the coming two decades. Linked to this estimation, household air pollution from the use of biomass in inefficient stoves would lead to premature deaths. 

Addressing these inequities depends upon South Sudanese ambitious people that projected situation is intolerable, a commitment to effect the necessary change, and getting targets and indicators to monitor progress. A new financial, institutional and technological framework and capacity building are required in order to scale access to modern energy services in South Sudan. A monitoring tool, the Energy Development Index (EDI) can be provide that ranks South Sudan states in their progress toward modern energy access. 

The goal of eradicating extreme poverty in the coming decades in South Sudan will not be achieved unless substantial progress is made on improving energy access. To meet the goal, an additional millions people need to be provided with electricity and clean cooking facilities. All this will require an investment which is not yet available. 

Challenges of Sustainable Electricity Supply in South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

South Sudan with population of about 8 million which got its independence by July 9, 2011 is facing challenges to build a strong economy. Industrialization and modernization cannot be achieved without proper access to electricity. Electricity is supplied through diesel powered generators and yet, more than 90% of the South Sudanese people are without access to electricity. Electricity supply is characterized with poor infrastructures, frequent power breaks, lack of spar parts and lack of technical persons. Electrical equipment are brought far distant industrial countries, therefore they are very expensive.

The current installed capacity of electric power is about 26.8 MW in South Sudan. This electric power is 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 23o MW, said power Engineer at Juba power station. He also added that Juba at the moment needs at least 80 MW whereas, the rest of 5 towns need at least 150 MW, 30 MW per each. Most of these diesel generators are made and brought from Finland. However, some of these generators are not operating due to the technical problems and fuel shortages.

The total electric power required by South Sudan at the moment is estimated to be 450 MW while the electric power required by Juba Town is estimated to be 28 MW. Estimation was made based on population of 8 million living in South Sudan. The assumption was made that the average electric power consumed for one house is around 9 kWh/day, 5 persons per house. This electric power is mainly used to power lights, TVs, fans, refrigerators, washing machines, electric irons, etc. In the coming decades, this amount of electric power might be increasing with population and establishment of new industries.

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 is high. They can be divided into large and small (Mini, Micro, Pico). The capacity of 500 MW and above can be categorized as large, whereas Mini power capacity can be categorized in the range (500kW-10MW), Micro (10kW-500kW), and Pico (<10kW). However, this categorization varied from country to another and it depends on country’s own standards. So far, there are no categorizations for hydropower plants in South.

The potential of hydropower plants capacity is estimated to be 5583 MW in South Sudan. But, there is hydropower plants studied in some of South Sudanese states with installed capacity of about 2777.5 MW. There exist 4 studied hydropower plants in Central Equatoria State: Fula 34 Km from Nimule with installed capacity of 1080 MW, Shukole47 Km from Nimule with installed capacity of291 MW,Lakki71 Km from Nimule with installed capacity of 456 MW and Bedden 136 Km from Nimule with installed capacity of 780 MW.

There areas well other 3 hydropower plants studied: Juba hydropower plant 4.5 Km South of Juba Town with installed capacity of 120 MW. Sue hydropower plant 15 Km west of Wau Town in Western Bahr El-Ghazal State with installed capacity of 25 MW. Kinyeti hydropower plant 65 Km South East of Torit Town in Eastern Equatoria State with installed capacity of 5 MW. There is also hydropower plants studied in Western Equatoria State with installed capacity of 25.5 MW.

The availability of sunlight is around 7 hours/day with radiation on the horizontal surface of about 5 kWh/m2/day in South Sudan. This is the standard radiation level needed for optimization of the photovoltaic (PV) system.  Solar radiation expresses the amount of solar energy falling into a certain area per day. Solar energy is divided into solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. A solar PV system converts sunlight directly into electricity, whereas a solar thermal system utilizes sunlight for heating. Solar PV system consists of solar cells, a battery, charger, and inverter. Solar cells are commonly made of silicon material with the efficiency in the range of 6% and 15% with a lifetime of 20 to 30 years. Efficiency is the ability of the silicon martial to convert sunlight directly into electricity. The rated power of PV modules for energy applications generally range from several watts to 200W. PV systems can be built as stand alone solutions in South Sudan. Therefore, batteries are needed to store energy from PV panels during the daytime and used it at night time or rainy day. Electricity from PV system can be used to supply homes, heath centres, and schools, as well as urban buildings without access to electricity.

Wind power is site specific in offshore, high (hills) and in open areas. The annual average wind velocity is about 2.5 m/s in South Sudan compared to standard wind velocity of 5 m/s. Small wind turbines are promising device for electricity generation and pumping water in South Sudan. Small wind turbines can be used to supply residents with electricity and mechanical power. Electricity is used to supply homes, telecommunications, and refrigeration. Mechanical power is used for pumping water and irrigation for small farms. A small wind turbine for pumping water system can use more than twenty blades, whereas a wind turbine used for electrical power generation uses only two or three blades.

Biomass resources are forests, animal wastes, agricultural residues and sugar cane in South Sudan. The total forests area is estimated to be 75 million hectare in South Sudan. Biomass and sugar cane have not yet used for electricity generation. Animal waste in the form of dung is estimated to be 4.5 million tones per year in South Sudan. However, animal waste has not yet used for biogas (Methane) production. Biogas can be used for lighting in the South Sudanese households. Geothermal is also renewable energy sources but there are no studies been conducted to identify theirs sites in South Sudan. Geothermal energy is the heat energy that stored in deep earth and can be used for thermal electricity generation.

South Sudan is an oil production country therefore; crude oil can be used for electricity generation. Crude oil must be treated with thermal cracking process. Thermal cracking is an energy intensive process to make it suitable for electricity generation. Incomplete of crude oil may involve a massive environmental disaster. Crude oil is cheap and easily to access, but transmitting it to point of generating or consumption is costly. For example, you need a pipe line to transmit a crude oil to point of generation in Juba, or transmission lines to transmit generated electricity.  Natural gas can as well be used for electricity generation but no studies are conducted to indentify the amount of natural gas available in South Sudan.

The people of South Sudan cannot be without electricity until the large hydropower plants are built. Those large hydropower plants along the river from Nimuli to Juba may take decades to occur. Therefore, building a medium hydropower plants and solar energy for homes are needed to support the current poor situation of electric power in the country. Building a local hydropower plants with installed capacity of 1 MW up to 25 MW is possible. Such hydropower plants can be built to generate electricity in Torit, Yei, Wau and other similar towns in South Sudan, while government is planning to build a national electricity network (grid). The issue now is the available resources to build such hydropower plants. Investors might be given a priority to build such hydropower plants. Therefore, data and information on hydropower plants sites and their potentials in the country are needed. Unfortunately, such data and information are not provided by local concern authorities such as South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC), universities and others. This is meant that research and development units in SSEC, universities and in other concern bodies need to be established. 

Solar energy for homes needs to be applied in South Sudan. The application is varied from homes, health centers, schools and small shops to remote and rural areas as well as urban areas.  The big challenge for solar energy is its initial costs. People are not aware about the advantages and disadvantages of the solar energy technology in South Sudan.  This is meant that people should be well informed on the benefits of solar energy and their costs. Solar panels retailers with international standards should be made available but in affordable prices. Rural electrification by solar energy can be established to provide local people with electricity. However, the people in rural areas are not ready to pay such costly service. Therefore, solar energy products need to be subsidized by government, local and international non governmental organizations (NGOs) and local enterprises. Crude oil for electricity generation need to be considered too to support the current power problems, but the cost is an issue. Natural gas, biogas (Methane) and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) can as well be used to generate electricity for lighting.