Solar Company Ventures into Sudan

Solar Euromed has signed an agreement with Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Mining in order to set up a 2,000-MW solar power plant program. Two projects, totaling 100 MW and 150 MW, are expected to begin in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

As conventional energy methods are unable to meet local demand, the concentrated solar power (CSP) company saw an opportunity to venture into what others might perceive as too risky of an investment. Sudan is still struggling in the aftermath of a 20-year civil war with elections set for April 2011 that will decide if the predominantly Christian South Sudan will cede from its mostly Islamic northern half.

As the continent already faces water scarcity, CSP is still questioned by many industry analysts. CSP, heating a fluid that boils water to turn a turbine, uses four times the amount of water of a natural gas plant and twice as much as a coal or nuclear plant. However, African City of Technology’s Osama Rayis told AFP that there was a great deal of underground water in these areas that would make CSP ideal for pumping.

Standing in the way of Sudan’s ability to harness solar energy to generate electricity is the financial backing needed in order to get these costly solar projects off the ground. Solar Euromed’s CEO Marc Benmarraze noted that venturing into the country did not come without political risks. Therefore, investors will need to see that such projects are cost efficient while generating a return before investment in Sudan can be expected to pick up.

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