ABSTRACT
Proponents of economic development often search for a single strategic source of economic growth. Important candidates include saving, capital formation, entrepreneurial activity and infrastructure. Transportation must rank high in such evaluations. In a country of low population density such as the Sudan the acquisition of new social and economic habits will be spurred on by transportation improvements that widen markets and link together formerly semi-isolated settlements. As an emerging country with an extremely narrow base of manufacturing industry, the Sudan produces and consumes a comparatively small amount of energy. The demand for electric power in the Sudan is associated with the following major uses: the agricultural irrigation schemes; and development of manufacturing industry. Few countries in the world rely so heavily on their railway as the Sudan. While railway freight capacity appears adequate, inefficient operations impose a major constraint on expansion of the economy.
