Elsewedy Electric has inked a $45m deal with the Ministry of Energy and Dams of South Sudan.

The deal will see the construction of a hybrid solar photovoltaic project with a battery storage system near Nesitu County, which is 20km from the capital of the Republic of South Sudan.

The project will occupy some 250,000sqm and will feature a 20MW-peak solar photovoltaic park, a 35MW-hour battery storage system, and an in-house training centre that will serve the Jubek State and the Equatoria region. The project is expected to start producing energy in 2020.

“It is a privilege being selected by the esteemed government of the Republic of South Sudan to deliver this project, which shall be one of the largest battery storage solar photovoltaic projects in Africa. The support of the AFREXIMBANK was significant to conclude this contract which will help South Sudan to tap its incredible renewable resource potential and deliver significant economic, social and environmental value,” said Ahmed Elsewedy, president and CEO of Elsewedy Electric.

The project’s estimated annual supply of 29,000,000kWh of clean energy will power more than 58,000 South Sudanese households, while avoiding more than 12,000 tons of CO2 a year, according to a statement. The project is expected to contribute significantly to the electrification of the region.

Elsewedy added, “We realised that reliable power and water supply is the key to developing economies, and we will deploy all our global resources in ensuring South Sudan and its people to unlock their full potential; same as we will do in all countries we operate in.”