# Las Anod Electricity Rates Cheapest in Somaliland: 2017 Report

> Somaliland Sun reported in 2017 that Las Anod had the country's lowest electricity rates, but the report does not establish what has happened since.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Infrastructure and Services
- Tags: utilities, drainage
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/las-anod-electricity-rates-2017-report

## Key points

- Somaliland Sun reported on 2017-08-19 that Las Anod had the cheapest electricity rates in Somaliland.
- The report attributes the low rates to Gurmad Company, a solar energy supplier, but provides no verified tariff data.
- No subsequent information is available on Las Anod electricity rates or Gurmad after 2017-08-19.

On 19 August 2017, Somaliland Sun reported that Las Anod town has the cheapest electricity rates in Somaliland. The report, citing correspondent Ahmed Mohammed Suleiman of sister paper Dawan, said residents pay 70% to 80% less than practically elsewhere in the country. It did not establish what has happened since.

## What the 2017 report claimed

The publication said Las Anod residents enjoy better energy services and billing than the rest of Somaliland. A customer quoted by the correspondent, Fosia Mohammed Jibril, said electricity cost 30 US cents per unit. Somaliland Sun reported the rest of the country pays about one US dollar per unit, without naming a source.

Somaliland Sun attributed Las Anod’s supply and street lighting to a company it called Gurmad. The report described Gurmad as a pioneering social public solar energy production and supply operation. Its CEO, Mohammed Abdirahman Arale, also known as Jabutawi, said the company has production capacity of 600 kW, as reported by the publication (unit written as 'kwt' in the source and not normalised by SCR).

The report said supply is available 24/7 and the billing system includes pre-paid and post-paid SIM-card service where card insertion or removal functions as a cut-out. Street lighting is supplied by Gurmad, and the correspondent credited it with helping maintain peaceful stability against muggings.

## What the report does not establish

No tariff schedule or rate data for any other Somaliland town is given. The 30 cents per unit figure is a customer quotation, not confirmed by a utility, regulator or Gurmad. Gurmad’s ownership, registration, licensing, operating model and the basis of any public or social mandate are not stated. The 600 kW capacity is stated by the CEO, not metered output, and no actual generation or sales data is provided. No billing records, customer numbers, revenue or subsidy data are given. The 24/7 availability and street-lighting coverage are not independently confirmed.

The 2017 report establishes no subsequent development. There is no verified information on what has happened to Las Anod electricity rates or Gurmad since 2017-08-19.

## Questions

### How much cheaper is electricity in Las Anod?

Somaliland Sun reported in 2017 that Las Anod residents pay 70% to 80% less than practically elsewhere, with a customer quoted at 30 US cents per unit compared to about one US dollar elsewhere. These figures are not verified by a utility or regulator.

### What is the source of cheap power in Las Anod?

Somaliland Sun attributed Las Anod’s supply to Gurmad Company, a solar energy operation. The report did not provide details on ownership, licensing or operating model.

### Are other towns adopting similar models?

The 2017 report does not mention any other town adopting a similar model.

## Sources

- [Somaliland: Las Anod Town has Cheapest Electricity Rates in the Country](https://somalilandsun.com/somaliland-las-anod-town-has-cheapest-electricity-rates-in-the-country/) — Somaliland Sun, 2017-08-19