South Sudan's Renewable Energy Potential: A Building Block for Peace
Publisher: United States Institute of Peace
Author(s): David Mozersky and Daniel M. Kammen
Date: 2018
Topics: Basic Services, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Assistance, Peace Agreements, Renewable Resources
Countries: South Sudan
The world’s newest country, South Sudan, is also the least electrified. A period of growth that began after a 2005 peace deal and continued after independence in 2011, saw billions of dollars in oil revenue and strong international support. This period was powered by diesel generators and little long-term electricity infrastructure was created. A new civil war that began in late 2013 has stymied all growth and led to economic collapse, triggering a massive multibillion-dollar international humanitarian response. Switching from diesel to renewable energy in these operations could unlock a host of benefits, both near-term and longer-term. This report argues for a donor-led transition to renewable energy to power humanitarian efforts across South Sudan and offers recommendations on how to achieve it.