- South Sudan Central Equatoria Business Union (CEBU) has called on the government to review and reduce power tariffs to enhance investment.
- The CEBU Technical Advisor, Ass. Professor Jimmy Pitia presented several items for the government to implement to improve the country’s economy.
South Sudan Central Equatoria Business Union (CEBU) has called on the government to review and reduce power tariffs to enhance investment.
Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO), a Private Public Partnership company incorporating EZRA Construction and Development Group and the South Sudan Electricity Corporation, is Juba’s only electricity service provider.
South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) is reported to hold 48 per cent of the shares, while EZRA Construction & Development Group (ECGD), a foreign company, holds 52 per cent.
Although the government and the African Development Bank paid for the electric poles on the roads across Juba, while EZRA Company owned the generators at Gumbo Shirikat, tariffs continue to affect the residents.
In their follow-up meeting with the Ministry of Energy and Dam to enhance the implementation of the previous Economic Forum resolution, the Union underscored high power prices as a challenge to investment.
The CEBU Technical Advisor, Ass. Professor Jimmy Pitia presented several items for the government to implement to improve the country’s economy.
The body called on the government to diversify the energy sector by incorporating more renewable power solutions and urged the government to focus on reducing power tariffs.
“The government should revise power tariffs, which are currently the highest in the world, to enhance the investment climate and ease the crushing burden on the people,” the statement partly read.
The Union appealed to the government to develop a comprehensive legal framework for the energy sector to attract and secure investments.
For his part, Eng Faustino Tombe, Director General for Planning in the Ministry of Energy and Dams, expressed that current tariffs are affected by currency fluctuations.
“The current tariffs were passed by the National Parliament back in 2018, but because of the fluctuations of our currency, it has greatly affected the tariffs,” he said.
He added that the ongoing projects, including the about 20-megawatt Nesitu power plant, would help the country.
Lam Tungwar, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Energy and Dams, revealed that the initiative to export power from Uganda could also help with other government plans.
“The ministry is working hard on ways to reduce the high tariffs by importing power from Uganda, which will drastically reduce the burden of high tariffs, and also planning for renewable energy,” he said.
Last year, the National Chamber of Commerce accused the Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) of charging excessive power tariffs that have frustrated the growth of local manufacturers.
Speaking during the third Made in South Sudan Trade Fair in Juba, Ladu Lukak, the chairperson of the Chamber, said the cost of electricity in South Sudan is the highest in the world.
“Some of us in the private sector can manufacture products like cooking oil, flour, soap, biscuits, handkerchiefs, etc. here, but we have a problem with electricity. This electricity has become like the dollar because the most expensive electricity tariffs are in South Sudan, and yet no one is questioning the person supplying the electricity,” he said.
He said that when one buys electricity worth SSP 10,000, the company deducts SSP 2,500 in charges. Several residents continue to express different views, with others believing the power distributors cheated them.
Some small business owners reportedly spend over SSP 20,000 daily on electricity, while those running businesses requiring more power claim to spend upwards of SSP 70,000 daily.
However, some residents claimed to be paying over SSP 10,000 daily, which cannot last if one has electronics like a television.
JEDCO tariffs obtained from its official page
Domestic customers using electricity of 100 KWH at 0.316 USD/KWH
Domestic customers using electricity of more than 100 KWh at 0.336 USD/KWh
Government customers using electricity at 0.336 USD/KWh
Commercial customers using electricity at 0.440 USD/KWh
Industrial customers using electricity at 0.450 USD/KWh