Participation in the construction of Merowe Dam

Some Arab countries are also involved in the construction of Merowe Power Station. According to a 2003 Arab News report, Saudi Arabia provided Sudan with a $150 million loan.

According to information cited by the Arab Business Network in 2008 from Kuwait's official news agency, Kuwait's "Arab Economic Development Fund" provided a loan of approximately US$52.5 million for the construction of the power station. The United Arab Emirates also provided some funding. Therefore, the construction of power stations can be regarded as a model of South-South cooperation.

Due to the sanctions imposed by Western countries on Sudan, Western companies have less participation. However, the German Lammer International Consulting Company, which is known for its rigor and even rigidity, served as the engineering design of the dam and is also the consulting and supervision unit of the dam; France Alstom supplies the generators and turbines for the hydropower station.

Of course, there are also critics of the dam. Some international organizations have criticized the dam for lacking environmental analysis and the government not properly addressing resettlement issues. Some civil society groups believe that dams will damage the environment and damage cultural relics. Some people worry that the dam will exacerbate conflicts over water distribution in the Nile Basin and even trigger a "water war."

However, some criticisms have purely ulterior motives. After the power station was completed, some Westerners even claimed on the website that "Sudanese celebrated the completion of the dam while committing genocide."