Sudan receives new power barge in Port Sudan to ease severe blackouts
July 22, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum announced Wednesday the arrival of a power generation barge belonging to Nawawi Company at Port Sudan port, preparing to bring it into service to boost national grid capacity and ease severe electricity rationing.
Several Sudanese states are experiencing severe power cuts, reaching 12 to 18 hours daily in some areas. This has worsened public hardship, particularly in Port Sudan, which is currently facing high temperatures.
The ministry said in a press release Wednesday that the barge will enter service as soon as technical preparations are completed.
It noted that the move comes as part of state efforts to bolster electricity supply and secure the needs of the country in general, and Red Sea State in particular, at the lowest possible cost.
The contract was awarded through an open international tender among five companies, with Nawawi winning following technical and financial evaluations and negotiations with relevant government entities.
The agreement provides a 100-megawatt power barge alongside a 50-MW land-based power plant at a cost of 4.95 cents per kilowatt-hour. The ministry noted this price represents a significant reduction compared to the previous contract, freeing up financial resources to support grid stability.
The initial barge contract was signed temporarily in 2018 for one year to cover supply deficits until the Kilanieb (Kilo 10) power station project was completed. However, that project stalled due to the December revolution, the COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently the war.
The ministry stated it has secured financing for the project in cooperation with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), expecting work to resume soon.
It added that continuing the previous contract was necessary to maintain supply, though it led to rising energy costs and additional terms imposed by the operator.
The new barge is expected to increase available production capacity and improve supply stability once connection and technical testing are complete.
On Tuesday, the ministry attributed ongoing blackouts to technical factors, including the stoppage of power imports from Ethiopia, increased summer demand, returning populations, and rising needs in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
It also cited main power plants going offline for maintenance, challenges in securing operational inputs like fuel and spare parts, and extensive damage to generation and distribution networks from acts of sabotage and repeated attacks.