Sudan Announces Plans for Nuclear Power Stations

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Sudan is the largest country in Africa and the largest Arabic nation. The country, which borders Egypt and the Red Sea, has significant ties to Iran and the Middle East. In October 1997, comprehensive economic, trade, and financial sanctions were placed on Sudan in response to terrorism. These sanctions were bolstered again in May of 2007, targeting individuals and companies condoning Sudanese violence. Since then, the Obama Administration has extended the sanction terms by two years.

Oil production has floundered heavily under the sanctions, although the country has managed to increase production to 470,000 barrels per day. Oil exports account for 95% of Sudan's export revenues, and production accounts for the minority of electricity production. In 2006, renewables, such as hydropower and combustible wastes, made up about 80% of the country's power generation, while the remainder was generated through the utilization of petroleum.

Sudan's electric power sector is hindered by an obsolete infrastructure, lack of expansion and frequent outages. In 2004, Sudan had an installed capacity of 985 megawatts (MW), servicing only the urban areas around Khartoum. Rural areas that are off the grid depend on biomass to generate power. Capacity rose greatly after the construction of two massive hydroelectric power plants on the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers, although the grid has remained focused in highly urbanized areas. As of now, Sudan has an installed capacity of more than 2,000 MW. With a current population of 42 million that is set to increase drastically, steps must be taken to ensure a sound future in the electric power sector.

Late in 2008, Sudan, a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, announced the intention to establish nuclear power in the country. Sudan has been a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IEAA) since 1958 and received approval for nuclear power construction from the IEAA in 2009. The Sudanese Atomic Energy Commission (SAEC) (Khartoum) officially announced the launch of the country's nuclear program this August with the intent to build four power stations by 2030.

SAEC is hoping to commence construction on the first power station sometime in 2014, although SAEC has yet to select a supplier or sign agreements with any nuclear-capable countries. Sudan has estimated that its first 600-MW nuclear power station will cost upward of $1.2 billion. Sudan is the fifth Arab nation to announce plans for incorporating nuclear power into its electric power sector in the last year.

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