S. Sudan says ready to reinstate electricity to light up dark Juba again

JUBA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said on Tuesday that it will reinstate hitherto collapsed power transmission system that once lit up Juba before conflict and economic difficulty halted the nascent electricity service, a government official said.

The Minister of Dams and Electricity Dhieu Mathok, told journalists that prior to the festive season Juba will once again light up after they revived the once broken power transmission by the South Sudan Electricity Corporation(SSEC).

"We are planning to test the electricity operation network on Dec. 16-17, and if things go well automatically we are going to operate the machines by Dec. 23," Mathok revealed in Juba, adding that maintenance works on the generators were ongoing.

He said they will reintroduce prepaid connections and meters to help maintain and stabilize the power supply due to the fact it collapsed in the past after operating on losses.

"We have adjusted the power tarrif we examined the tariff and found out that it was one of the reasons the power supply collapsed, we were operating at breakeven point. We have revised the tariff to be in uniform within the region like Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia," Mathok disclosed.

The average tariff rate will go for 0.42 U.S. dollars cheaper than Uganda and Kenya that charge a dollar per tariff, and the connection fee will cost between 1.3 dollars and 2.33 dollars.

The minister added that they will cut fuel costs as the consumption will drop from 6 million liters to 2 million liters of fuel, hence saving 4 million liters of fuel for operating generators on daily basis.

In October South Sudan reached agreement with neighboring Uganda to extend 15 KV of electricity to three border areas of Kaya, Nimule and Kajo Keji.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has in the past extended a grant totaling 33 million dollars to help South Sudan expand access to cleaner energy sources.

International donors also pledged new financial support to help South Sudan rebuild its transport and energy infrastructure that was destroyed during the country's civil strife, which erupted in December 2013.

"The assumption here is that we operate the power station automatically we will see that the consumption of fuel will reduce in Juba. Around 6 million liters monthly is consumed by generators, better our power station consume about 2 million liters," he disclosed.

He also said that more electricity supply needed to light up Juba and other vast parts of the country will be aided by the ongoing construction of new power plant along the River Nile worth 100 Mega Watts that is expected to conclude by August 2018.

"It will not resolve the problem of Juba as said the coverage is limited but we have a plan to light Juba in August 2018 there is power plant under construction along the banks of the river Nile to generate 100 Mega Watts," Mathok added. Enditem