Sudan turns to solar power amid drone strikes on energy grid, welcomes Qatari investment interest

October 28, 2026, KHARTOUM – Sudan on Wednesday signed a contract to build a 20-megawatt solar power plant in Northern State, as the government seeks to diversify its energy mix amid escalating drone attacks on conventional power stations and fuel facilities.

Sudan Electricity Holding Company awarded the contract for the Dongola solar plant to the National Company for Energy and Engineering Ltd, the Ministry of Energy and Oil said in a statement.

The deal comes as the country’s fragile power grid faces repeated disruptions from aerial attacks across multiple states.

On Tuesday, a drone strike disabled the Markhiyat power station northwest of Omdurman, cutting electricity across Khartoum in the seventh attack on power infrastructure in under a week.

Further strikes on Wednesday targeted a power station and fuel storage sites in El Manaqil in Gezira state, alongside storage facilities and a pipeline running to Bashayer Port in Red Sea state, triggering a full blackout in El Manaqil and surrounding districts.

Sudanese Energy and Oil Minister Motasim Ibrahim Ahmed said the government aims to expand renewable energy capacity to stabilize supply for essential services and agricultural production.

Ahmed also held talks in Khartoum with a delegation from Qatari firm Ittihad Al Mustaqbal, led by Chief Executive Abdul Jalil Sharaf, to discuss potential Qatari investment in Sudanese oil, solar, and wind projects.

Separately, the energy ministry warned the public against fake social media accounts impersonating the state-run electricity distribution utility to spread misinformation, urging citizens to rely solely on verified official statements.