Sudan-Türkiye Joint Transformer Factory Reopening Targets Critical Equipment Shortages
The Sudanese government on 21st June 2026 relaunched a Turkish-Sudanese joint transformer factory located south of Khartoum, a move aimed at addressing the severe shortage of electrical equipment resulting from the ongoing conflict and supporting broader industrial recovery efforts. The reopening comes after extensive damage to Sudan’s power infrastructure following the outbreak of conflict in April 2023.
Authorities estimate that approximately 15,000 electricity transformers of varying capacities have been destroyed since the conflict began. Each transformer is valued at around $46,000. In addition to the loss of transformers, substantial quantities of electrical cables were looted for their copper content, while utility companies lost entire stocks of critical hardware after warehouses in Khartoum were ransacked.
Officials Highlight Importance of Local Production
Sudan’s Industry and Trade Minister Mahasin Ali Yaqoub joined the governors of Khartoum and Al-Jazirah states to officially inaugurate the Maxan transformer factory in the Safola industrial area. The facility was originally established in 2020 as a partnership between Sudanese and Turkish investors but ceased operations after suffering war-related damage and looting.
Yaqoub stated that the return of the joint transformer factory will assist government initiatives focused on rebuilding the country’s industrial sector while reducing dependence on imported equipment. Domestic transformer manufacturing plays an important role in stabilizing electricity services, reducing costs, and supporting both maintenance activities and grid expansion projects.
Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza said the state had lost around 14,000 transformers in addition to extensive quantities of cables and other equipment. He described the reopening as a strategic measure to ease the shortage and urged factory management to expand output and accessory production lines to meet reconstruction needs. Hamza also pledged state support for securing industrial zones and facilitating the return of factories to operation.
Production Expansion Planned as Demand Rises
Al-Jazirah State Governor Al-Tahir Ibrahim al-Khair emphasized the significance of domestic manufacturing, noting that his state is home to eight industrial cities that depend on such services for both industrial and agricultural activities. Representing the Maxan board of directors, Ibn al-Jarrah Ali announced that the joint transformer factory has already begun operations with an initial production capacity of 150 transformers per month under a single-shift system. Plans are in place to add more shifts and modernize production lines to satisfy growing demand across Sudanese states.
Earlier in June 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum unveiled an urgent four-track strategy designed to rehabilitate the electricity sector, improve supply reliability, and stabilize the national grid. Measures include repairing inactive stations in Khartoum State to support the return of residents, reinforcing distribution networks, and installing new transformers in densely populated areas. According to the United Nations Development Programme, Sudan’s electricity sector has incurred damages of around $3 billion since the war broke out, contributing to worsening power outages across multiple states.
