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Ethiopia - Sudan Transmission Interconnector (Sudan section)

E.02.02.02 Energy Power Interconnector

Overview

Summary

The Sudan section of the Ethiopia–Sudan Transmission Interconnector is a proposed 500 kV line intended to carry electricity from Ethiopia into Sudan. The project would strengthen Sudan's supply security and increase bilateral power trade through a high-voltage line, substations and grid connections. The Sudanese component remains at feasibility stage and has not yet reached construction.

Description

This project concerns the Sudan section of a high-voltage Ethiopia-Sudan power interconnection designed to move power from Ethiopia into Sudan and strengthen the Eastern Africa Power Pool. The existing database record describes a 500 kV transmission line ending near Khartoum, with new or upgraded high-voltage substation facilities at Rabak and Jebel Aulia in Sudan and bay extensions linked to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance area and Sudanese network nodes.

The project has an important history. Ethiopia and Sudan already implemented an earlier interconnector, which the Nile Basin Initiative documents as commissioned around 2010-2013 and used to support regional power trade. That earlier success provides a technical and institutional basis for the larger 500 kV scheme, but it does not by itself validate the very high CAPEX currently stored against this record.

Validation note: external sources confirm the strategic rationale and earlier Ethiopia-Sudan interconnection history, but I did not find a reliable external source confirming the current capex_cost value of 48,494 in USD million. The financial fields should therefore remain under owner validation before being used in investment material.

Sources reviewed: World Bank, Regional Eastern Nile - Ethiopia-Sudan Power System Interconnector Project, https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/935901468201843498; Nile Basin Initiative, Ethiopia-Sudan interconnection success story, https://nilebasin.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/Ethiopia-Sudan%2520interconnection%2520success%2520story.pdf.

Objectives

  1. Increase cross-border electricity trade between Ethiopia and Sudan.
  2. Improve power-system stability and reserve sharing.
  3. Support lower-cost electricity supply through regional hydropower and grid integration.
  4. Create a platform for wider Eastern Africa Power Pool interconnections.

Economics

External validation supports the interconnection concept and earlier project history, but the current capex_cost of 48,494 USD million is not externally validated and should not be presented as confirmed.

Risks

High-level risk note: project preparation should retain explicit contingencies for scope creep, delayed financial close, exchange-rate movement, right-of-way acquisition, resettlement, environmental permitting, security and political coordination. Comparative transport-infrastructure research shows that long pre-construction periods and weak accountability are major drivers of cost escalation; this is especially relevant for cross-border megaprojects. Source: Flyvbjerg et al., What causes cost overrun in transport infrastructure projects, https://arxiv.org/abs/1304.4476.

Progress history

  • 2025 Feasibility
    No construction or energisation milestone was confirmed for the Sudanese 500 kV section in 2025. Technical studies, route definition, procurement planning and financing remain outstanding. [Progress source(s): https://www.eep.com.et/?news=the-inauguration-of-the-grand-ethiopian-renaissance-dam-gerd-on-september-9-2025-marks-a-monumental-day-not-just-for-ethiopia-but-for-the-entire-african-continent]
    Financing: No current financing close specific to this exact line was verified; remove vague claims not tied to a named financier.
  • 2024 Feasibility
    Updating of feasibility study (Delayed due to the political instability)
    Financing: Update of feasibility stopped due to political instability in Sudan
  • 2017 Project Structuring planned: Tendering
    Final joint feasibility meeting held in Sudan in January 2017
    Final tender document for transmission and substation report complete in January 2017

    Activities in the pipeline:
    • Update financial model, including affordability assessment by the utilities
    • Market soundings with DFIs and institutional investors
    • RFQ/ RFP process to appoint EPC contractor
    • Negotiations with lenders and possible funding applications.

    2013: The first transmission interconnector project between Ethiopia and Sudan was commissioned in December 2013. 2015: The two national power utilities, namely EEP and SETCO, commissioned a feasibility study in July 2015, which was managed by a Joint Technical Committee (JTC). 2016: • Joint data validation, load forecasting and network analysis meeting held in Sudan and project inception meeting held in February 2016; • Joint power system analysis and expansion planning seminar held in Ethiopia in April 2016; • Final feasibility study report as well as the joint economic, financial and risk analysis meeting held in Sudan in October 2016; • Final ESIA, Resettlement Action Plan and Environmental and Social Management Plan completed in December 2016; • Final Transmission and Substation Engineering Design Report completed in December 2016; • Joint tender documents and procurement workshop held in Ethiopia in December 2016. 2017: Final joint feasibility meeting held in Sudan in January 2017 Final tender document for transmission and substation report complete in January 2017 Activities in the pipeline: • Update financial model, including affordability assessment by the utilities • Market soundings with DFIs and institutional investors • RFQ/ RFP process to appoint EPC contractor • Negotiations with lenders and possible funding applications
    Financing: The Project Information Memorandum published November 2017 specifies a CAPEX of USD 422 mil, excl. VAT so this has been factored into the specified CAPEX in the financing tab, i.e. USD 481.1 mil.
    The governments aim to achieve financial close for the project by January 2018. Market soundings have commenced to market the project to lenders, short list potential lenders and obtain indicative term sheets for funding.
  • 2016 Data Not Available planned: Transaction Support & Financial Close
    • Joint data validation, load forecasting and network analysis meeting held in Sudan and project inception meeting held in February 2016;
    • Joint power system analysis and expansion planning seminar held in Ethiopia in April 2016;
    • Final feasibility study report as well as the joint economic, financial and risk analysis meeting held in Sudan in October 2016;
    • Final ESIA, Resettlement Action Plan and Environmental and Social Management Plan completed in December 2016;
    • Final Transmission and Substation Engineering Design Report completed in December 2016;
    • Joint tender documents and procurement workshop held in Ethiopia in December 2016.
  • 2015 Data Not Available planned: Project Structuring
    The two national power utilities, namely EEP and SETCO, commissioned a feasibility study in July 2015, which was managed by a Joint Technical Committee (JTC).
  • 2014 Data Not Available planned: Feasibility
  • 2013 Pre-Feasibility planned: Data Not Available
    The first transmission interconnector project between Ethiopia and Sudan was commissioned in December 2013.

Key figures

Dimension Planned Achieved
Power 3,000 MW 0 MW
Voltage 500 kV 0 kV

Key facts

Programme
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Status
Stall
Countries
Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Sudan
Region
East Africa
Last updated
25 Sep 2026

Financing

USD million
Preparation cost
186.00
Preparation funding gap
0.00
Capital cost (CAPEX)
484.00
CAPEX funding gap
0.00
Operation cost
29.03
Total cost
699.03

Stakeholders

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
COMESA
Eastern Africa Power Pool
EAPP
Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office - ENTRO
ENTRO
Ethiopia - Government of Ethiopia
GoET
Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
IGAD
Nile River Basin Program
NRBIP
Sudan - Government of Sudan
GoSD
Sudan Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity
MWRIE

Source: African Infrastructure Database (AUDA-NEPAD)