Face of Truth: Sudan’s Electricity: From Garri to Kalanaib
Ibrahim Shglawi
Amid the ongoing political transformations in Sudan, electricity emerges as a sovereign pillar intricately linked to the fate of the state and its national security. The Prime Minister’s visit to the Kalanaib power station reflects a growing official awareness that building the future begins with energy. This visit serves as a declaration of political will that places energy at the core of the national reconstruction project, where political vision meets developmental priorities.
In this article, we explore the history of the Garri and Kalanaib power stations and examine the significance of the visit in light of Sudan’s energy sector vision for the future.
The origins of the Garri and Kalanaib project date back to December 2016, when the Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigation, and Electricity signed an agreement with German company Siemens to build two power plants in Garri and Port Sudan with a combined capacity of 950 megawatts, with plans to increase it to 1,270 megawatts through a combined-cycle system. We were present during the signing of this agreement and participated in the discussion of the development plan, which designated the Garri Industrial Zone as a strategic area for manufacturing industries.
Work on installing the units began the following year, but political instability and the fall of the previous regime in 2019 cast a shadow over the implementation process. The project was delayed and entered a state of partial suspension.
Partnering with Siemens to build these power stations marked a qualitative shift in Sudan’s energy policy. The selected sites held particular logistical significance — Garri is close to Khartoum Refinery and the Garri Industrial Zone, while Port Sudan serves as the country’s main seaport. The project reflected a vision to distribute power equitably between the center and the periphery at a time of increasing demands for developmental and economic balance between the capital and outlying regions.
This vision was part of a comprehensive strategy developed by the Ministry in 2015, aiming to increase Sudan’s total installed power generation capacity to 5,500 megawatts by 2030. This would be achieved through expansion of thermal plants, integration with renewable energy projects, and diversification of energy sources including natural gas, fossil fuels, solar, and wind.
For years, Garri 1 and 2 served as the backbone of electricity supply for the capital and neighboring areas, with a combined capacity of 400 megawatts. The plan was to complete Garri 3 by adding another 450 megawatts using the combined-cycle system — a strategic move to address the country’s growing electricity deficit, which has reached 20% annually.
The Kalanaib plant in Port Sudan — recently visited by Prime Minister Dr. Kamal Idris — represents a dual-impact project. In addition to generating 500 megawatts of electricity, it will produce 80 cubic meters of clean water per hour, bolstering water security in a region suffering from basic resource shortages.
Prime Minister Idris emphasized that the Kalanaib station will be a top priority for his government and expressed commitment to completing a project that began in 2016 but stalled due to funding challenges. Reviving this project symbolizes a shift in governmental policy — one that favors continuity and completion over replacement, with an emphasis on integrated technological solutions that yield developmental benefits. Kalanaib is expected to transform the energy landscape of the Red Sea region.
Notably, the station’s design is based on efficient fuel use by harnessing waste heat from exhaust gases, aligning the project with modern environmental standards and supporting sustainability goals. The station and its transmission line to the national grid are estimated to cost around $200 million — a substantial investment in the future of energy in eastern Sudan that positions Port Sudan as a strategic hub for power and industry.
Additionally, the electricity sector’s strategic plans stress the need to transition to lower-cost sources by integrating alternative and renewable energies — including solar, wind, and geothermal — and by upgrading and maintaining existing plants. Many facilities have surpassed their operational lifespan, and war-related destruction has worsened conditions, as seen in parts of Bahri Thermal Station.
From our #Face_of_Truth perspective, the electricity sector has become a cornerstone of Sudan’s sovereignty and reconstruction agenda. Despite the challenges it faces — including financing, regulation, and policy gaps — Prime Minister Kamal Idris’ decision to make Kalanaib the destination of his first field visit underscores his prioritization of the sector within the broader national reform effort. Electricity has become a mirror of state sovereignty and capability — there can be no reconstruction without power.
The open question remains:
Does the government have the will and capacity to transform this vision into a tangible reality — one that will define Sudan’s new future?
Wishing you all wellness and prosperity.
Wednesday, June 12, 2025
📩 Shglawi55@gmail.com