South Sudan: Juba aims to advance Fula, with a potential of 1,080 MW
Juba claims it wants to advance the hydropower dam project at Fula, near Nimule. The site is assessed at 1,080 MW by the Nile Basin Initiative, while funding and construction timelines remain to be clarified.
The South Sudanese government claims it is ready to move forward with the Fula dam project on the White Nile, near Nimule, in Eastern Equatoria. The Minister of Energy and Dams, Agok Makur, reaffirmed this intention on September 17 in Juba.
The Grand Fula site is assessed to have a hydropower potential of 1,080 MW by the Nile Basin Initiative. A joint mission from the regional organization, the European Union, and South Sudanese authorities inspected the site on April 7, alongside the 400 kV power interconnection project between South Sudan and Uganda.
In June, Agok Makur had provided a higher estimate of approximately 1,800 MW for Fula’s potential. However, the technical documents from the Nile Basin Initiative and the South Sudanese budget identify Grand Fula at 1,080 MW.
The Nile Basin Initiative ranks Grand Fula among the priority hydropower projects in the basin. Its proximity to the future regional power link is expected to eventually facilitate the transmission of production to Juba and enable exchanges with East African networks.
On September 17, the minister invoked South Sudan’s sovereignty and the resolutions of the Nile Basin Council of Ministers to defend the project. He stated that Fula is among 34 projects approved within this regional framework.
Funding remains the main unresolved issue. In 2024, the South Sudanese Minister of Investment estimated the project at around $2 billion and reported difficulties in attracting investors. The September statements did not provide an updated budget or a start date for construction.
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