In Omdurman, just outside Khartoum, 31‑year‑old housewife Randa al‑Mansour relies on rooftop solar panels to keep her home lit amid relentless blackouts caused by the war. “We are suffering big time,” she said, noting that her three children often arrive at school to find no power and must return home to the same darkness.
War has crippled Sudan’s power grid
Since the fighting between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023, more than 59,000 people have been killed and roughly 13 million displaced. The conflict has also devastated an already fragile electricity system. The United Nations Development Program estimates $3 billion in damage to the grid, and production has fallen from 4,400 MW pre‑war to just 1,100 MW.
Power outages now stretch up to 16 hours a day in many urban areas, while at least 30 % of Sudan’s population still lacks any electricity access, according to the World Bank.
Solar offers a lifeline, but price is a barrier
Solar panels, batteries and inverters have become common sights on Khartoum’s billboards as more Sudanese consider the technology. Mohey Eddin Abu‑Bark, owner of a local solar‑systems business, says a typical 10‑kilowatt installation costs nearly $5,000 – a huge sacrifice for low‑income families.
Al‑Mansour’s husband works in Saudi Arabia and sends remittances, allowing her to afford the system. Others are not so fortunate. Manahel Madany, a 43‑year‑old civil servant with diabetes, cannot afford solar power for her refrigerator, forcing her to discard insulin every few days when the heat spoils it.
Health risks and broader impacts
The Sudan Doctors’ Network warns that continued electricity cuts threaten patients in hospitals, especially those needing constant dialysis. Pharmacies without reliable power are unable to store temperature‑sensitive medicines, further limiting access to essential drugs.
Even though Sudan enjoys abundant sunshine—over 4,000 hours a year—the high upfront cost of imported solar equipment and a weakening local currency hinder a rapid transition to clean energy.
Looking ahead
With half of the country’s skilled electricity engineers having left since 2023, rebuilding the grid will be a long‑term challenge. In the meantime, solar power remains the most viable option for families desperate to keep lights on, study, and preserve life‑saving medication, even if many are priced out of the solution.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
