Oil & Gas

SUDAN: Efforts to boost oil and gas production in Sudan are ongoing as the country grapples with an energy deficit exacerbated by the civil war that began in April 2023. Sudanese Minister of Energy and Oil, Dr. Muhyiddin Naim, recently emphasized the nation's openness to collaboration with Russia in the energy sector. During a meeting with a visiting Russian delegation, he highlighted potential cooperation in gas extraction from the Red Sea coast and the rehabilitation of power stations and other critical facilities affected by the conflict.

Naim underscored the importance of leveraging Russian expertise to enhance Sudan's oil and electricity sectors, particularly in expanding the national grid to reach more rural areas. He pointed out various investment opportunities available within Sudan’s oil and gas industries, as well as the potential for renewable energy projects. The discussions included the need to redistribute factories across states to improve electricity supply, particularly from renewable sources.

The Russian delegation expressed a keen interest in investing in Sudan’s oil, gas, and electricity sectors, citing their extensive experience in pipeline construction, refinery operations, and clean energy generation. They proposed that Naim visit Moscow to explore collaborative opportunities further, including participation in the Russian Energy Week Forum and discussions with major Russian oil companies like Zarwigia.

In addition to discussions with Russia, Sudan is also looking towards solar energy as a viable solution to meet its electricity demands. The Director General of Sudan Electricity Holding Company, Eng. Abdullah Ahmed Mohamed, recently met with a Turkish company specializing in solar and hydropower to explore investment opportunities. Mohamed revealed plans for five solar projects with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts and expressed the need to expand solar initiatives, given the limited success of previous projects. The Turkish delegation has shown readiness to invest under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, promising to bring significant expertise and resources to the solar energy sector in Sudan.