Solar Systems for Water Pumps in Kassala State

The Solar Systems for Water Pumps in Kassala State project is a renewable-energy water infrastructure upgrade designed to stabilize municipal water supply in Kassala by powering borehole pumping stations with solar energy. The intervention addresses chronic electricity outages and fuel shortages that disrupt water production and distribution.^{1 2}

The project’s vision is to “ensure reliable, resilient, and affordable urban water supply in Kassala” by replacing energy-dependent pumping operations with solar-powered systems. It aims to reduce service interruptions and strengthening the city’s capacity to manage water scarcity.^{3 4}

The project delivers targeted energy and water-supply upgrades to increase production reliability and distribution performance:^{5 6}

• Solarization of two municipal water pumps serving Kassala City.
• Operational shift from interrupted electric supply to near 24-hour operation enabled by solar energy.
• Increased daily water delivery capacity in the eastern and southern sections of Kassala from 200,000 L/day to 450,000 L/day.
• Integration with Kassala’s existing abstraction and distribution chain, which relies on boreholes near the Gash River, centralized storage tanks, and city redistribution.
• Pipeline of additional works: three more solarized water pumps commissioned for construction to further enhance supply.

The initiative improves water production reliability by solarizing critical pumping infrastructure within Kassala’s municipal supply system. By reducing dependence on unstable grid electricity and diesel fuel, the project enables continuous operation of borehole pumps and improves water delivery to underserved areas of the city.^{7 8}

The project is implemented by UNDP Sudan in partnership with the State Water Corporation of Kassala and Kassala local authorities. Funding is provided by UNDP, with additional internal support from the UNDP Crisis Bureau.^{9 10}

The solarized pumps were handed over on August 8, 2024, and the inauguration and public rollout were announced in mid-August 2024. The upgraded system is expected to more than double daily water delivery in targeted areas of Kassala from 200,000 to 450,000 liters per day, and follow-on expansion is planned through three additional solarized pumps commissioned for construction.¹¹