Sharing the Nile Waters: Will Egypt Oppose Dams Projects in South Sudan?

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Four Nile water agreements were signed between Britain, Italy, and France starting from 1891 to 1925 on how to deal with Nile water affairs. Finally, Britain managed to exclude the rest of the two colonial powers from east Africa and Nile water affairs.

The first Nile water agreement involved Egypt as the Nile basin country signed in 1929. In this agreement, the annual Nile water flow of 84 billion cubic meters divided between Egypt 48 billion cubic meters and Sudan 4 billion cubic meters.

In 1959 Agreement signed between Egypt and Sudan recalculated the 1929 agreement on Nile water. For instance, 55.5 billion cubic meters for Egypt and 18.5 billion cubic meters to Sudan. The agreement allowed Egypt to build the High Aswan Dam and Sudan to build Roseires Dam.

The Aswan Dam started in 1960 and finished in 1971 while, Roseires Dam began its construction in 1961 and completed by 1966. The agreements, 1929 and 1959, complicated the usage of the Nile water by riparian states. However, most of the nation's states were not independent then; therefore, they are not bound by these agreements after independence.

In 1999, the Nile Basin Initiative was established to include ten (10) countries, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt Eritrea as an observer. This initiative's main objective is "to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources."

Since the 1959 agreement, Egypt keeps trying to increase its share from Nile water through Sudan. After Addis Ababa Agreement signed between the Southern Sudan Liberation Movement and the government of Sudan in March 1972, Egypt managed to convince Sudan's government to start Nile water projects in the current state of South Sudan.

In 1976, the Jonglei Canal project initiated to decrease the White Nile's loss while it passes through the Sudd swamps in the south of Sudan. The length of the Canal was 360 km and could secure an annual flow of water of around 4.7 billion cubic meters to Egypt. Sudd is Africa's largest wetland and one of the most extensive tropical wetlands in the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identified the Sudd as a globally key, unrepresented ecological system.

In 1983, one of the reasons why the SPLA/M revolted was the Jonglei Canal project. The founder of the SPLA/M, Dr. John Garnag de Mabior, did his doctoral thesis titled "Identifying, selecting, and implementing rural development strategies for socio-economic development in the Jonglei Projects Area, Southern, Region, Sudan" in 1981. One of his most definite recommendations in this project was that it could be an environmental disaster. 

By 1984, the Canal's digging had stopped when fighting erupted between the SPLA/M and Sudan's government. The construction of the Jonglei Canal started in 1978, and only 10 km remains to finish. And this ended Egyptian efforts in the 20th century to increase its share of Nile water from South Sudan.

The Canal project's main objective was not only to decrease the loss of water in the Sudd but also to collect the water from Nile tributaries and directed into the Canal towards Egypt. The result is the loss of the Sudd conservation site and the people's lives in the area.

In 2011, South Sudan got its independence and became a sovereign country and a member of the Nile basin countries. Thus, Egypt would reconsider its role to support its previous projects to increase its water share. Egypt is badly planning to expand its water share through the Jonglei Canal and cleaning the Nile tributaries basins projects in South Sudan. 

Egypt was one of the countries to quickly recognize the state of South Sudan and immediately established diplomatic ties. Further, Egypt offered diesel generators to the government of southern Sudan before independence to start the construction of power plants throughout the country. Also, Egypt gives scholarships for South Sudanese students at her universities every year. And other several supports in the form of training for government officials, medical aids, humanitarian aid, and others. Al these gifts are win to win cooperation between Egypt and South Sudan, probably for the exchange of Nile water projects.

Currently, South Sudan is busy with its internal issues, and the Jonglei Canal project is not one of a country's priorities. Electricity projects will start anytime from now by initiating dams' projects, mainly in Nimule and elsewhere. South Sudan will expect Egypt not to oppose the construction of dams' projects in the country.

Electricity Will Not End With Thermal Generation in South Sudan

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. 

E-mail: ater.amogpai@gmail.com

Time To Stop Dependency In Jieng (Dinka) Communities Of South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Roughly, more than 80% of Jieng communities are living in rural areas without a proper access to modern services such as electricity, schools, and health services among others. Modernization started by colonization era and the notable firsts of Jieng went to schools at around 1940s. Most of them were born at around 1940s or earlier 1930s and started their schools at around 1950s or 1960s. They were born in villages where education was not a right and only younger children were sent to school.

Jieng is a very communal society in which everything is almost shared. For instance, marriage is a family responsibility rather than a personal. The main purpose of marriage is then to raise big family and produce many children. Normally, Jineg marry girls immediately after their first menstruation starting from 14 years old onward. Big family means wealth, power and protection as well as reputation in a society. In this regard, Jieng normally marry wives to their dead people (brothers, cousins, sisters etc.)  And attentively children of the same man name themselves after ghost fathers. Everything depends on cattle, the bigger the number of cattle herds, the many wives and children you have. Interestingly, Jieng in village will leave to seeking treatment but at the expensive of a relative in town. 

In Jieng communities, one man can reach to over thirty (30) wives and that children are still born and name after him despite of his death. Many explanations can be traced in here that his elder sons continue to marrying his wives. These sons can be older than some of his wives by 10 to 20 years which qualified them as their husbands. Another practice is that a man can marry to his uncles who are still alive. Further, if one of the family has fertility problem, his wife may secretly get pregnant from a family member probably a brother or a cousin.

In spite of the modernization, a few Jieng who moved to towns seeking education and employment still practicing those customs. However, their children who never grown up in villages face obstacles to accept or adopt those practices. This in turn has remarkably increased the level of burden to those Jieng living and working in towns.

Jieng are relatively rich people in term of natural resources that include fertile land, livestock, and fishers’ resources among others. Even the current oil operation in Upper Nile State and Unity state are mostly in Jieng areas. These are opportunities if properly enhanced could create prosperous societies who entirely depend on themselves. For instance, more than 20 million cattle herds own by Jieng communities, still these resources are not yet economically utilized. The fertile land not yet cultivated and fish in rivers and swampy areas not yet economically recognized by Jieng. Oil is a national commodity but law gives percentage to Jieng communities living inside operation zones which is another prosper opportunity. 

Dependency has become a very big issue in Jieng communities. Many use kinship to force their relatives deliver services. Productivity in Jieng community is very limited because of its communal characteristics. Jieng communities in towns should have introduced innovative or complimentary ideas. Marriage is a personal decision but this does not mean we should not involve our parents. The main purpose of marriage is to have a partner who completes the rest of his/her life with you. After marriage you are mandated to three priorities and responsibilities whether you are a man or a woman. The first priority is your family (wife/husband/children), the second priority is your parents (Father/Mother) and the third and last priority after you got married are your father/mother in laws.

Productivity and independency are to be encouraged and that livestock, fishers and lands should be economically oriented resources. It is true that some Jieng in towns own cattle herds in camps in rural areas, now it is a time to introduce veterinary medicine and improve health of livestock to better benefit the community.

It said “You shall not covet”. Productivity and Independency must be practiced and that this culture of desire what does not belong to us should be abandoned immediately. God helps those who are helping themselves. There is a different meaning between a person under a mountain and a person who is climbing.

Education will reduce illiteracy in Jieng communities. Education does not mean attending classes in schools and acquiring degrees or certificates only but phasing out conventional and adopting modernization culture. Education and modernization are better to improving our living style tremendously. It does not make sense if educated Jieng persons with tools of change and improvement in their hands still follow the traditions which are described as strange customs.

e-mail: ater.amogpai@gmail.com

Current and Future Trends of Engineering Education in South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Before 1990, there was only University of Juba in South Sudan with Colleges of Medicine, Natural 

Resources and Environmental Studies, Economic and Social Studies, Education and Rural Development. College of Engineering and Architecture was established by 1997 when university was operating in Khartoum. As a new established college, it has been benefiting from the University of Khartoum and Sudan University of Science and Technology. Thus, Students used to attend their lectures, labs experiments, workshops and libraries at these universities. It was not an easy task but the college managed to sustain and graduated professional engineers who in turn proved their performances in different engineering practices.

In 2011, the University has to move back to Juba after 20 years operational in Khartoum. The university returned to juba but with additional colleges such as College of Engineering and Architecture, College of Industrial Sciences, College of Arts, College of Management Science, College of Law, and College of Music and Drama. The existence university infrastructures in Juba could not accommodate all these colleges and therefore staff and students have to narrow themselves into small spaces to perform their duties.

There are several challenges facing the School of Engineering and Architecture, and that includes, lack of competent teaching staff, fully equipped library with digital and online presence. Limited ICT and laboratories, little resources for school to innovate, limited research capabilities among others. When I joined the Department of Electrical Engineering in January 2012, there was only one permanent staff, Dr. Martino Head of the Department. He used to teach Control Systems courses and I started teaching Power Systems courses. Communications and related other courses have to be outsourced. The same issue happened with Departments of Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture.

University of Juba is the only South Sudanese higher institution offers engineering education in the country. In 2017, I was short listed by the University of Rumbek of Science and Technology to outline the project of engineering education at the university. Unfortunately, the project did not kick off due to delay approval from the ministry of higher education.

Engineering students at the University of Juba struggle a lot to perform their labs and workshops duties. One of the requirements for engineering students to fulfill their graduation is to pass labs and workshop exercises. In fact, it is a teaching family of engineering who really tendering to offer a minimal requirement of engineering education with limited resources in hands. Just envisage, a student who graduated without labs and workshops exercises what engineering skills he or she acquires?

Though, it is a huge efforts but not difficult for those newly graduated engineers to practice a little knowledge they acquired at university. University is a self-learning and research institution, teaching comprises of only 25% and the rest of 75% is left for the student efforts. However, if labs and workshops are missed then engineering student is mandated to complete the rest of 50% through research and self-learning.

For better engineering education equivalents to other world engineering educations all supportive teaching methods must be made available. Labs, workshops, strong internet service and standard libraries connected to other world universities libraries should be first made ready. Memorandum of understanding with regional and international universities on engineering education should be signed.

Currently, one of the most challenging factors facing school of Engineering and Architecture is financial capacity. Lack of competent staff could be one of a negative aspects of financial constraints. A staff may find another source of income since salaries are not enough and systematically not deliver on time. If the staff is given the minimum incentives, they will be motivated and the University projects will not stall. Developing Masters and PhD programs would not only generate money, but intensify research capabilities of the school. Short courses or workshops for individuals, NGOs, private sector and government institutions add a value on school stuff. Diploma programs can as well be part of the school of Engineering and Architecture plan program.

Diversity of Economy a Strategic Focus for South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Diversity of economy has been a widely intensity debate for long. Currently, oil revenue makes up 98% of the country’s national budget. Current very low demand dropped crude prices badly and that South Sudan economy will be hard hit. This is not the first time oil prices fluctuate, it happens from time to time due to a certain circumstances such as coronavirus pandemic. Thus, it is a time for South Sudan to think strategically and stabilize the economy by developing other sectors.

South Sudan is rich with natural resources such as energy, mining, fertile land, water, forestry, fishery, and livestock. There are mineral resources such as Gold, Ironstone plateau and Copper in greater Equatoria and Baher el Ghazal. Different types of crops, vegetables and fruits, oil seeds and palm seeds, are available in the all states. Tea, coffee, tobacco, Teak and Mahogany trees are available in Greater Equatoria and Baher el Ghazal. Further, Acacia (gum) Cotton crop, livestock, fish, poultry and bee keeping for honey production are available throughout the country.

All these available resources potentialized various industry opportunities in the country. Food production, from drinking water and other soft drinks to alcoholic drinks, fruit and vegetable industries can be established. In addition, dairy, meat, fish production are other industry opportunities.

Mining and chemical based industries can be built to produce cooking oil, soap and flour. 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 for packaging materials production, paper production from Papyrus in Sudd area, cotton textile and sugarcane industries.

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. Tourism industry is also another area of interest, for instance, in Nimule, Sudd area and other places throughout the country.

Industrialization cannot be then achieved without a proper access to energy. For instance, the available hydropower, biomass and solar energy resources can be used to generate electricity. The hydropower sites are found mostly in Equatoria to Baher el Ghazal States.

Crude oil from oil producing areas is another viable source for electricity generation. 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 potential project to generate electricity with capacity of more than 500 MW. However, there is a hydro site near Juba with estimated capacity of around 130 MW and this could be used to improve electricity service in the city.

An account under direct supervisory of the president of the republic might be created for this purpose. Therefore, allocation portion of oil money to start these industries will guarantee the strongest and stable economic of the country. The proposed industries create economic opportunities for 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.

Finally, I have an opinion I must say, if the idea of enhancing all our natural resources in such a manner that we established industries that generate income more than oil money, why not keep that crude oil in the ground? In the other words, this oil itself brings along insecurity and environmental impacts to human.

E-mail: ater.amogpai@gmail.com

LED lamp light source of the 21st Century

Espoo Finland, December 2008

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

The Foundation for electronic building technology and engineering at the Helsinki University of Technology was established by the Ensto Schneider Electric Finland Company in 2004. The main objective of the foundation is to support electronic building technology students at technical universities in Finland. Therefore, the foundation is to encouraging research on new technologies such as renewable energy and light emitting diode (LED).

At the first year of my doctoral degree, my Professor Liisa Halonen nominated my thesis titled: lighting and energy usage in Sudan for the foundation award in 2008. The thesis was divided in to two main sections: energy and lighting. In energy section renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydro were proposed to produce electricity and LED to light up the homes in Sudan. 

A huge research on LED attracted scientists over the world as the best lighting technology. Incandescent light bulbs lit the 20^th Century and LED lamp proved to be the best lighting technology of the 21^st century.

In November 2008, my thesis was declared as the winner of the award in 2008 by the foundation. It was the third award since the foundation was established in 2004. The first and the second awards were announced by 2006 and 2007 respectively.

The ceremony of handing the award was fixed in December 2^nd 2018 at the premises of the Ensto Schneider Electric Finland in Espoo. From Helsinki University of Technology, my Professor Liisa Halonen, Professor Jouko Pakka and I attended the event.  Mr. Kari Laine, CEO of Schneider Electric Finland handed over the award to me. It was one of the excited moment in my life when I first own an award. The next day December 3^rd 2008 I was leaving for Khartoum since I left Sudan in April 2002. I am going home and in my hands two things: Masters’ Degree of Electrical Engineering and in other hand the award valued €2000 thousand euros.

My thesis was chosen because it addresses the typical issues such as renewable energy combined with LED lighting said Mr. Kari Laine. Though the thesis discusses these issues in different angle and that it focusses only on the Sudan but the proposal of LED as the latest lighting technology is interesting and unique. The thesis is as well contributing in knowledge of introducing LED as the best lighting application in developed and in developing countries.

Interestingly, in September 2006, the Millennium Technology Prize by Technology Academy Finland was awarded to LED research Professor Shuji Nakamura. The award which valued one (1) million euros was for his work in developing new blue bright light source, green, and blue lasers. Professor Nakamura’s work has completely revolutionized lighting industry by discovering new blue and white LED light source. The efficient and energy-saving white LED light applications will improve the quality of human life in developed and developing countries.

Professor Nakamura visited the Lighting Unit, Department of Electrical & Communications Engineering at the Helsinki University of Technology in 2006 Finland. This is the same year I joined the unit and started my LED research. I have used some of his LED research and discoveries in my thesis document. My Master’s thesis titled lighting and energy usage in Sudan was completed by 2007. I continue my LED research and I have successfully completed the doctoral dissertation titled LED lighting combined with solar panels in developing countries by 2011. During my research I have proposed LED light combined with solar energy to light up houses of those who have no access to electricity.

Amazingly, in October 2014, Professor Shuji Nakamura from University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physic “for the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes which has enabled energy-saving white light sources”. He shared the prize which valued to SEK 8 million equivalent to US$1.1 million or €1.16 million with Isamu Akasaki, and Hiroshi Amano, from Nagoya University Japan jointly. LED lighting could increase the quality of life for over 1.5 billion people around the world who have no access to electricity services. These population have one of the lowest power requirements in the world that can be powered by cheap local solar power.

Today, LED lights are found everywhere in our daily activities: from electronic displays, cars, ships, to trains, TVs screens, smart phones screens, and from households lighting, offices lighting, to traffic lights, airports, torch lights, planes etc. In South Sudan, LED products are available in markets and are accessible whenever you want. Since 99% of the South Sudanese people has no access to electricity, my house is completely lit up with LED lights and solar panels.

In December 2011, I returned to South Sudan but did not continue LED research, instead, since 2012 I keep teaching electrical engineering courses at the department of Electrical Engineering University of Juba. Utilization of Electrical Energy is the only course where I can share and discuss with students different types of light sources including LED light and applications.

My award valued €0.002 million euros Millennium Technology Prize and €0.0006 million euros Nobel Physics Prize. Both these prestigious prizes won by Professor Shuji Nakamura on his works and invention of white LED. This is the weight of my contribution to science of LED light compared to these giant scientists who spent decades researching on LED in the field of electrical and electronics engineering. In spite of the limited time I spent on LED research five (5) years from 2006 to 2011, I can proudly say I have immersive contributed to the science of LED as one of the greatest discoveries of the 21^st Century.

South Sudan electricity service is improving

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

The basic requirement of any country’s sustainable economic development is access to abundant and reliable electricity supply. A country without access to a proper electricity service her economy is described as floating. Electricity is a prime mover of any economy, without it, factories do not operate, modern equipment such as computers may not function.  Furthermore, health institutions cannot perform their duties at day/night times, students cannot do their home works at day/night times as well.

Electricity improves quality of living standard both in urban and rural areas. By powering offices, schools and household appliances we ensure comfortable working place for staff. Outdoor and street lighting provide safe movement and reduce criminal’s activities at night times. However, lack of access to financial capital is the most challenge facing government of South Sudan to establish sustainable electricity supply. Overall country’s security remains a priority if not the extreme requirement to all sustainable economic development.

Electricity is produced by South Sudan Electricity Corporation from thermal sources with diesel being the only available fossil fuel used for electricity generation. There is no strategic reserve fuel stock to facilitate emergency stockpiling. This represents a number of limitations in terms of large investments and restrictions in coverage – currently about 99% of the population, including the government, have access to intermittent electricity supplies.

There were 3 small diesel generation units installed in Juba, Wau and Malakal with maximum capacity of 17 MW, 8 MW and 5 MW respectively. There are also other small scale diesel generation installed in Rumbek, Bor, Yambio and Renk. The current total operational capacity is less than 20 MW with only 17,000 customers connected to 3 localized distribution networks.

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.

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 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.

In November 21, 2019 President Salva Kiir switched on a 100 MW Power Plant that will supply electricity to Juba and other surrounding areas. The Plant which started construction 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 launching of the Plant. For the first time in the history, South Sudan will have power girds to distribute electricity to its users. Therefore, the access to electricity service has gradually improved and increased from 17,000 to 100,000 customers which is approximately equivalent 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 the Power Plant for the next 17 years. It is too early to start talking about the challenges arise from the two projects before completion. However, fuel shortages, spare parts, manpower and power outages will always remain initial constraints to Juba new Power Plant.

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 hydro-power 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 renewable (predominately hydro-power) 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. In addition, and for all 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.

Renewable energy resources are plentiful with hydroelectricity providing 24453 GWh, biomass, biogas and waste 9134 GWh collectively, and solar energy capable of supplying electricity up to 4183 TWh.