Sudan's energy infrastructure faces new challenges as drone strikes disrupt power supply, adding to the strain of a war that has already crippled its oil sector.
War damages Sudan's energy infrastructure
Since the start of the war in April 2023, fighting has deeply disrupted Sudan's energy infrastructure, with the oil sector suffering significant damage that complicates the functioning of this economy dependent on hydrocarbons.Drone strikes cause power outages
Drone strikes damaged electrical installations in the southeast of Sudan on Monday, October 26, causing power outages in four states, according to the Sudan Electricity Holding Company. The public operator states that the damage threatens the stability of the national grid, as the war now affects another energy component.Targeted areas and extent of damage
The targeted installations are located notably in Sinja, El Hawata, Al Fao, Mashkour, and Al-Junaid. According to the state company, the strikes damaged five substations and caused a power outage in four southeastern states.Affected states and military control
Thus, the states of Sennar, Al-Qadarif, White Nile, and Al-Jazirah are affected by the outages, in an area representing half of the territory controlled by the army. The Sudan Electricity Holding Company attributes these attacks to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023.RSF not claiming attacks
The group has not publicly claimed the attacks in the sources available at the time of writing. These attacks follow episodes that affected Sudan's oil infrastructure. The Al-Jaili refinery, near Khartoum, the main refining facility in Sudan with a nominal capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, indeed ceased operations after the start of the war.Disruption of oil transportation
The conflict has also disrupted the infrastructure used to transport oil from South Sudan to Sudanese terminals. An energy system increasingly weakened The oil sector is therefore no longer the only sector to suffer the consequences of the fighting.Attacks on electrical installations
Attacks on electrical installations add a new constraint to a system already weakened by the war. The United Nations have already documented the consequences of attacks on essential infrastructure in Sudan. In September, the International Fact-Finding Mission noted that drone attacks had affected electricity, fuel, and other infrastructure on which civilians depend.Impact on public services and supply
Outages can affect the operation of public services and essential equipment, while damage to several posts and stations complicates the continuity of supply. The operator estimates that the impact extends beyond the areas directly hit.Challenges in restarting installations
Restarting the affected electrical installations poses an additional challenge for the electricity supply in this part of Sudan, as the conflict continues. These damages occur when only 66% of the population had access to electricity in 2024, according to the World Bank.
