Uganda is set to construct a 300-kilometer power transmission line to export electricity to South Sudan, a project supported by a $260 million funding package. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is the primary financier, providing $189 million, which includes a $122 million loan for Uganda and a $33 million grant for South Sudan. Additional contributions come from Uganda, which is providing $18 million, and the European Union, which has pledged $53 million. The transmission line will connect Uganda’s 600-megawatt Karuma hydropower plant to South Sudan, addressing the latter’s severe electricity deficit, where only about 5% of the population has access to power.
The project, which is awaiting approval from Uganda’s parliament and cabinet, is expected to begin operations in 2028. According to feasibility studies, Uganda will export approximately 481.27 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity to South Sudan in the first year. By 2033, the energy flow is projected to stabilize, with Uganda exporting 351.25 GWh to South Sudan and importing 48.45 GWh in return.
South Sudan has an operational generation capacity of just 108 megawatts, primarily from fossil fuels. The country’s largest grid network, managed by the Juba Electricity Distribution Co., serves around 35,000 connections according to Bloomberg.
