Sudan plans to buy electricity from Ethiopia

Sudan, which has a large electricity deficit, wants to obtain supplies from Ethiopia, which is completing the construction of the GERD, the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Despite the conflict between Egypt and Sudan on the one hand, and Ethiopia on the other, over the distribution of the waters of the Nile, it seems that Addis Ababa is playing the energy diplomacy card.

Sudan would like to buy 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Ethiopia. Officials from both countries have confirmed the information. If the agreement is reached, it would be a diplomatic victory for Ethiopia, which is struggling to get its large northern neighbors, Egypt and Sudan, to accept the imperative need for the dam.

Talks on the distribution of the Nile’s waters, which have been going on for years, are at a standstill.

Egypt and Sudan fear that their share of the water will be reduced because of the huge reservoir. Addis Ababa argues that the 6,000 megawatts of power that the project will produce will benefit the entire region and even the whole of Africa. An argument that is beginning to bear fruit as the impoundment of water is almost complete.

Sudanese experts are expected in Ethiopia this month. They will discuss the construction of a 550 million dollar high-voltage line to connect Ethiopia to Sudan.

This country is not the only one targeted by the energy diplomacy inaugurated by Addis Ababa. Kenya, but also Djibouti have begun discussions on the supply of electricity. South Sudan is interested, as is Somaliland.

In this connection, Ethiopia is building lines to Tanzania with a capacity of 2,000 megawatts, with the lucrative South African market on the horizon.