Solar (PV) powered pumping for irrigation (Desert-To-Power Initiative) Project

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) or Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD) is a multilateral development finance institution. The AfDB was founded in 1964 and comprises three entities: The African Development Bank, the African Development Fund and the Nigeria Trust Fund. The AfDB’s mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that are likely to contribute to the economic and social development of the region. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and private companies investing in the regional member countries (RMC).

The Republic of Sudan has received a grant from the African Development Bank Group to finance the SOLAR (PV) POWERED PUMPING FOR IRRIGATION (DESERT-TO- POWER INITIATIVE) Project.

The principal objectives of this project are to: help farmers reduce their dependency on imported fossil fuels through the adoption of renewable energy for water supply for irrigation to foster economic and social development by increasing crop production in agricultural areas in North Kordofan and West Kordofan states. Ultimately, the project will contribute to the promotion of the application of renewable energy in agriculture, improving farmers’ income by increasing yields and improving livelihoods, reducing GHG emissions, fostering sustainable economic growth by using cheaper irrigation options, and reducing poverty in the Sudan.

The project includes the following components:

3.1  Solar powered pumping systems, workshop and testing equipment for solar PV pump: Design, supply and installation of:

(i)  Solar photovoltaic (PV) powered pumps to replace diesel-based irrigation water pumps in farmlands (The project will install 1,170 solar power pumps, which will benefit 1,170 farmers by replacing an equivalent number of diesel water pumps in North and West Kordofan states);

(ii)  Establishment of one workshop in North Kordofan and one in West Kordofan for maintenance, servicing and repair of the solar powered pumps; and

(iii)  Supply of additional testing equipment for the solar PV pumps testing laboratory to ensure quality standards, quality assurance, testing and certification, and training and capacity building.

3.2  Consultancy Services for Project Engineering and Supervision

3.3  Capacity building and technical Assistance to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Executing Agency to envision and take action in other similar projects. Under this component, studies will be conducted for:

(i)  Training needs assessment;

(ii)  Special studies (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA);

(iii)  Groundwater assessment, baseline survey;