Gov’t to release $3 million to JEDCO as residents took to social media to express their frustrations

The Ministry of Finance has directed the Central Bank to immediately pay 3 million US dollars to Juba Electricity Distribution Company to resume power supply in the capital Juba.

According to Eye Radio publication seen by NCMP, the ministry of finance has directed the central bank to immediately give them the 3 million, the bank’s Governor Dier Tong disclosed that the money will be acquired at the official bank exchange rate of about 180 South Sudanese Pounds per 1 US dollar.

But it is not an ultimate solution to the looming problem that both JEDCO AND EZRA broached in their publications and press statements. JEDCO and Ezra said there was a lack of commitment from stakeholders leaving the power plant in a critical state.

But they are demanding for more than that according to their memo, government need to clear the backlog of payments.

Many Juba residents took to social media to lament this unhealthy development. Some residents of Juba have expressed anger over the manner in which electricity was shut down last night.

Ezra Construction and Development Group built and is operating the 100 Megawatts Power Plant in Juba.

The plant was built through a PP business model, but over time, the government has been accused of not standing up to its responsibility. The government of South Sudan is expected to take over the power plant in the future as the public-private sector agreement.

The Juba City Power Distribution System was constructed with the support of the African Development Bank which provided 38 million US dollars.

At the end of last year, JEDCO said it had connected 10,000 households, over 3,500 businesses, and over 200 governmental institutions to the grid.