Despite Sudan’s wealth of diverse resources that could be harnessed to ease its ongoing electricity crisis, particularly during the summer when consumption surges and pressure on the power grid intensifies, the country has remained largely dependent on hydropower and fossil fuels (fuel-based thermal power plants). In recent years, there has been significant growth in the use of solar energy as a supplementary source, even though Sudan possesses a wide array of natural energy resources, including solar, hydro, and wind power.
In the first part of this article, we will apply the method of proof by contradiction as an analytical tool to explore whether stable electricity supply is truly achievable in Sudan. This will involve evaluating current data and assumptions, and examining the key factors influencing this goal. The second part will focus on the challenges faced by citizens as a result of continuous power outages over the past two years, a crisis rooted in war and the systematic damage inflicted on the country's electricity infrastructure, which has only deepened public suffering and disrupted daily life.
RSF are using drones to destroy infrastructure. Source: Independent Arabia
Frequent Outages in the Summer Months
During the summer season (March to June), temperatures in Sudan soar, with average highs reaching around 38°C, and May standing out as the hottest month of the year. In contrast, winter temperatures average around 24°C. The high heat significantly drives up electricity demand, primarily due to the increased use of cooling systems. This surge places immense pressure on the already fragile power grid, often exceeding its capacity, particularly during peak hours, resulting in frequent and prolonged outages.
Can Sudan Provide Stable Electricity?
If we assume that Sudan is capable of delivering a stable electricity supply throughout the year without frequent outages, this would imply the fulfillment of several critical conditions: full and efficient utilization of all available energy resources, such as solar, hydro, and wind power, alongside the existence of a reliable distribution network, regular maintenance, good management of increasing demand for electricity and continuous consumption, as well as a state of year-round preparedness for emergencies.
However, in reality, several contradictions emerge. The country's infrastructure is severely underdeveloped: most power generation relies on aging dams that are prone to frequent breakdowns, while transmission and distribution networks are ill-equipped to handle high loads. Even minor malfunctions often result in widespread outages, yet these issues are persistently neglected. Furthermore, investment in renewable energy is almost nonexistent, despite the availability of resources, as there are insufficient projects to harness these resources.
Furthermore, there is a clear absence of government involvement in establishing the necessary projects to confront this challenge. On another front, the situation is worsening due to increased consumption and poor planning, especially in the summer when demand rises sharply without flexible plans to manage the pressure, leading to overloads and prolonged power outages. Fuel scarcity also represents a major obstacle, as some stations rely on fossil fuels, and with recurring economic crises, it becomes difficult to secure a steady supply.
Finally, the recent targeting of the Merowe Dam and other stations revealed the fragility of the electrical system, as limited strikes caused widespread outages, exposing the absence of any alternative plan.
A fire broke out in a transformer at Merowe Dam due to a drone strike. Source: Radio Dabanga
As a result, it becomes clear that all these contradictions indicate that the basic assumption (the possibility of providing stable electricity) is incorrect and clearly contradicts reality. This highlights a structural flaw that goes beyond mere technical failure, calling for a comprehensive reassessment of how the state manages electrical resources.
Electricity Figures and Statistics in Sudan
According to data from 2023, electricity production in Sudan was approximately 16,747 gigawatt-hours, reflecting a slight decrease from 17,705 gigawatt-hours in 2021. Electricity consumption in the country amounted to 13,983 gigawatt-hours, resulting in a surplus of about 2,764 gigawatt-hours. Despite this production surplus, there are significant challenges in electricity distribution and access. Many areas suffer from frequent power outages and lack of connectivity, particularly in rural regions.
Distribution of Installed Electricity Generation Capacity in Sudan – 2021
Electricity Generation Sources in Sudan
Electricity Usage in Sudan
The extent of the damage reached record numbers due to the conflict. An urban planning engineer explained that approximately 90% of the main electricity networks and facilities were damaged to varying degrees. He pointed out that more than half of Sudan's population is now suffering from electricity shortages after the war, compared to about 20% before the conflict began.
Ongoing Suffering and Targeted Facilities
It is a well-established fact in the context of the conflict in Khartoum that all facilities, whether government or private, have not been spared from looting and sabotage, particularly in relation to the theft of cables and wires and the destruction of transformers. Since the outbreak of the war, citizens have been continuously suffering from power outages in most areas of Khartoum State due to the targeting of transformers and electricity networks, as well as the looting and sabotage of cables and wires by the Rapid Support Forces and some criminals.
In the city of Bahri, north of Khartoum, one resident describes the daily suffering, saying:
"We were living in complete isolation... The power outage, which lasted for nearly a year and a half since the conflict began, completely halted life. The water station stopped working, making it a necessity to fetch water from the river. There was also no way to charge our phones, and all communication networks were down. By evening, movement in the streets stopped, and shops closed, as the lack of lighting turned the neighborhood into a space of stillness and fear. Under this pressure, the youth of the neighborhood did not remain idle. A simple initiative led them to collect some money to install solar panels and a Starlink device in one corner of the neighborhood, creating a small station for charging mobile phones and connecting with the outside world."
The burning and destruction of the Bahri Thermal Power Plant. Source: Sudan Tribune
In the past few months, the Rapid Support Forces have waged a systematic military campaign targeting strategic infrastructure, with a particular focus on electrical facilities and networks. A series of attacks were carried out on several vital stations and facilities since the beginning of 2025, the most significant of which was the Merowe Dam, which is the main source of electricity generation in the country, producing about 1,250 MW, covering around 45% of Sudan's electricity needs. The dam was subjected to a series of drone attacks targeting electrical transformers and other vital facilities. As a result of these operations, several states experienced power outages.
The Shift Towards Renewable Energy
In recent years, the government has made a noticeable shift towards investing in renewable energy and available resources. Plans have been initiated to build a 100 MW solar power station in Dongola, along with a 50 MW wind farm in the Red Sea State.
These steps are part of a strategy aimed at generating 5 GW of renewable energy by 2030. Additionally, a project was launched to install 1,170 solar-powered irrigation pumps in North and West Kordofan States to enhance agricultural production and harness renewable energy in areas not connected to the electricity grid.
In the same context, the government issued recent decisions to grant customs exemptions on solar energy equipment and batteries to encourage imports and facilitate their use amid frequent electricity outages. Despite these efforts, the biggest challenge remains political stability and government support.
Solar panels are a "lifeline" for Sudan's electricity crisis. Source: Independent Arabia
The government’s shift towards renewable energy is matched by a a self-sustained drive from thousands of citizens who are purchasing and installing solar panels on rooftops of homes, neighborhoods, and businesses. This is a result of power outages lasting for months in the Northern State and several days in the capital, Khartoum, due to recent attacks on electricity infrastructure. In light of these challenges, this individual shift reflects an increasing awareness of the importance of renewable energy and opens the door to a decentralized future for electricity in Sudan. Notably, this shift was not part of a government plan but came as a response to an urgent and immediate need.
Conclusion
In light of the analysis based on proof by contradiction, it is clear that the electricity crisis in Sudan is a deeply rooted problem resulting from accumulated technical and administrative failures, poor planning, and fragile infrastructure. To address this crisis, focus should be placed on developing infrastructure, boosting investment in renewable energy sources, and improving the management of production and distribution processes. Despite the diversity of available resources and potentials, the lack of will to invest in and convert these resources into practical solutions makes "darkness" a recurring scene. Can Sudan free itself from this contradiction and build a future that aligns with the resources it possesses?