Following High Demand for Solar Energy, How Can Inflated Prices and Fraud Be Curbed?

Reported by: Nazik Shamam

More and more Sudanese are now moving to acquire and use solar panels for the purpose of generating electricity following the renewed electricity crisis and prolonged power outages across most parts of the country.
In recent times, the Rapid Support Forces militias have targeted electricity generation stations, whether hydraulic or thermal generation stations, by repeatedly attacking them, using drones, thus affecting most of Sudan’s states.
Sudan experiences a shortage in electricity production as a result, which negatively impacts electricity supply across all sectors, prompting the government to apply on an annual program for electricity cuts.
Sudan’s electricity consumption needs amount to 3020 megawatts, of which 2220 megawatts are produced locally, according to government statistics. According to public data before the war, Sudan imports 200 megawatts from Ethiopia and 78 megawatts through the electrical connection with Egypt, the total leaving yet another 522 megawatts gap.

Following the repeated power outages, a consequence of the Rapid Support Forces’ attack on electricity generation and distribution points, there has been an increased demand for alternative solutions to produce electricity, including solar energy. In the years leading up to the war, many energy experts called for leveraging solar and wind energy to generate electricity due to their lower production costs compared to hydro and thermal generation.
Sudan has a high potential for utilizing solar energy thanks to round the year sunny weather, making it an ideal region for electricity generation using solar energy. With the growing interest in installing solar energy systems, a large number of companies operating in this field have entered the Sudanese market, importing equipment from abroad. However, some companies imported devices that do not meet specifications, leading to frequent malfunctions despite their high prices, in addition to their low efficiency in operating electrical devices.
Panel Prices
Professor Mustafa Nawari, a university professor and fellow of the British Engineers Association, confirmed that there has been marketing by individuals and companies for solar panels in the past period.
Nawari indicated in a statement to Sudanhorizon that the panels available in the Middle East markets have an efficiency of up to 425 megawatts and not 450 megawatts as marketed by some individuals and companies. He urged companies to announce the prices of the panels in US dollars to avoid fluctuations in the Sudanese pound, noting that concealing prices reflects uncomfortable intentions.
Price Increases
On the other hand, a staff member of a company that imports solar panels in the Red Sea state, who preferred to remain anonymous, justified the increase in panel prices due to the rise in the dollar price.
He told Sudanhorizon that the cost of solar energy is high “due to the rise and fluctuation of the Sudanese pound against hard currencies, which increases the cost and makes it unstable.”
He added: “Prices vary according to the size of the panel and the batteries used to operate the relevant electrical devices.” Regarding the non-compliance of the panels with specifications, he confirmed that some companies import panels with low specifications and efficiency while they are being marketed as high efficiency.”
Professor Mustafa Nowari, a university professor and fellow of the British Engineers Association, confirmed the existence of marketing by individuals and companies for solar panels.
In turn, energy expert Hani Othman sees that there is an increasing demand for solar energy in Sudan due to the electricity crisis, relying on a traditional market that imports in a conventional manner and at exorbitant prices due to government fees and the high exchange rate.
Hani told Sudanhorizon that it would be better for the government to adopt public solar energy projects, specifically plants that produce about 1,000 megawatt-hours like the Aswan plant in Egypt funded by the World Bank.
He noted that installing a central solar power plant producing 1,000 megawatt-hours would be sufficient to meet the consumption of four Sudanese states and would add 40% to the national grid’s total quantity, reducing the pressure on electricity production from dams and thermal plants running on diesel. He explained that citizens’ reliance on solar energy individually leads to the import of less efficient solar energy and puts pressure on foreign currencies, and it is expected that solar energy prices will rise as the government increases customs due to high demand.
He pointed out that there is a lack of strict oversight on companies, entities, and individuals importing solar energy in Sudan, most of which do not meet specifications and could lead to significant environmental hazards later.

The energy expert anticipated that the import of solar energy in Sudan will multiply by many folds in 2025 as compared to the demand in 2024, consequently the government will resort to raising customs duties, and the importing companies will resort to raising prices.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=5889