Overview
Agriculture and livestock are among the major sources of livelihood in Sudan, the third largest country in Africa and one of the most abundant places in the world in terms of water and agricultural land availability. However, despite the fact that nearly one-third of Sudan comprises fertile land, the country faces multiple challenges in irrigation and cultivation that cripple its efforts in achieving food and energy security.
To help Sudan overcome these challenges, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has extended a concessionary loan to the Sudanese Government for the development of Upper Atbara and Setit Dam Project. The project aims to utilize the water from Upper Atbara and Setit rivers towards the development of the eastern region of Sudan through increasing agricultural production and hydroelectric power generation.
Involving the construction of two interconnected dams in Rumela and Burdana with a total storage capacity of about 2.7 billion cubic metres of water, the project also includes the installation of a hydropower station at Upper Atbara Dam with a total installed capacity of 135 MW, as well as a reservoir at the confluence Upper Atbara and Setit rivers, a canal connecting the two dams, two spillways for surplus water, and a 220 KV, 28 km high voltage electricity transmission line that connects the power station to the national grid.
