South Sudan
With a cumulative score of 0.71, South Sudan ranks number 105 among emerging markets and number 134 in the global ranking.
- Emerging markets
- Middle East & Africa
0.79 / 5
Power score
0.51 / 5
Transport score
Buildings score
Only 56 markets (28 emerging markets) are scored on the Buildings sector. See the full list on the methodology page.
Low-carbon strategy
Net-zero goal and strategy
South Sudan does not have a net-zero goal or strategy.
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
South Sudan in September 2021 updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a non-binding plan to achieve the goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. It commits the country to an 18% decrease in emissions compared with 2017 levels in the agriculture sector, 30% decrease in the waste sector, 44% decrease in the transport sector, and 66% decrease in the tourism sector.
Fossil fuel phase-out policy
There is no fossil fuel phase-out policy in South Sudan
Power
Power policy
There is very little on-grid policy in South Sudan. Most actions in the energy sector in South Sudan are undertaken by multinational organizations, such as USAID or the Indian government. There is no government policy support to increase capacity. However, capacity is extremely low and does not support much of the population. The national electrification rate sits at 7.2%.
Power policies
Power prices and costs
Power prices are extremely high in the country due to low supply. In 2018 power prices were more than 28,000 South Sudanese pounds ($215) per megawatt-hour, about a 500% increase from 2017. Diesel prices increased by 33% from 2020 to 2021.
Power market
South Sudan is the youngest country in the world, having gained independence from Sudan in 2011. The country has undergone a sustained civil war from 2013 to 2020, which has impeded economic and infrastructure development and greatly decreased access to energy for citizens. After splitting from Sudan, the country only inherited one oil and diesel plant with a capacity of 62 megawatts. Its power sector is heavily indebted, causing threats to shut down the plant. In 2022, the government signed a 100-megawatt sales agreement with Ethiopia to provide power to South Sudan. This project is set to undergo construction in the next two years.
Installed Capacity (in MW)
Electricity Generation (in GWh)
Utility privatisation
Which segments of the power sector are open to private participation?
Wholesale power market
Does the country have a wholesale power market?
Doing business and barriers
The off-grid sector in South Sudan is receiving the most investment, primarily by foreign entities. Solar pay-as-you-go systems and personal diesel generators are common sources of electricity. There is no rural electrification plan in place, so rural areas must rely on off-grid methods to receive electricity.
Currency of PPAs
Are PPAs (eg. corporate PPAs and all other types) signed in or indexed to U.S. Dollars or Euro?
Bilateral power contracts
Can a C&I (Commercial and Industrial) customer sign a long-term contract (PPA) for clean energy?
Fossil fuel price distortions - Subsidies
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) down through subsidies?
Fossil fuel price distortions - Taxes
Does the government influence the wholesale price of fossil fuel (used by thermal power plants) up through taxes or carbon prices?
Transport
EV market
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in the electric vehicle sector. There is no active EV market.
EV policy
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector.
Transport policies
Fuel economy standards
Does the country have a fuel economy standard in place?
Buildings
Buildings market
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in boosting energy efficiency in buildings. As a tropical country, South Sudan does not have a low-carbon heat market.
Energy efficiency policy
Does the country have a national energy efficiency plan?
Energy efficiency policy
Are there minimum energy performance standards for buildings?
Energy efficiency incentives
Is there access to loans or grants for energy efficiency measures (i.e. Wall or loft insulation or double glazing)?
Buildings policy
The government has yet to implement any substantive policy support in this sector.
Buildings policies
Additional insights
from BNEF
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