The Sudanese government has signed an agreement in the field of electric energy with the American General Electric Company, for the first time in 30 years.
On Thursday evening, the official Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) quoted Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok as saying - following the signing ceremony that took place in the capital Khartoum - that Sudan had not witnessed any interaction from important companies for 3 decades.
Hamdok added, "Today we see a new dawn for effective partnerships that will help us advance the growth and development of the Sudanese economy."
International sanctions imposed during Omar Al-Bashir's long rule isolated Sudan's economy from much of the outside world, which contributed to an economic crisis that continued after his ouster.
The electricity scarcity crisis is one of the economic and living difficulties that have faced the country for decades, and it was the reason for Sudanese to take to the streets in demonstrations to demand improvement in their living conditions.
The agreement aims to alleviate challenges related to energy access and health care across the country, and to increase power generation, thus contributing to a positive impact on economic and industrial growth.
It is expected to add 470 megawatts of electrical energy, from which 600,000 homes in the country will benefit, according to what Sona reported.
The in-charge Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Heba Muhammad Ali, said that her country looks forward to "providing infrastructure and more job opportunities for the Sudanese people, which would contribute to raising living standards and affecting our economic growth."
For his part, the US Chargé d'Affairs to Sudan, Brian Shawkan, said that the agreement represents a milestone in the relationship between GE and the Government of Sudan.
General Electric Gas is expected to supply several units of gas turbines, adding up to 350 megawatts, in addition to rehabilitating 3 existing power plants, which will add 120 megawatts.
Although the United States announced the dropping of its 20-year economic sanctions on Sudan in 2018, the African country remains on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.