Jonglei fuel crisis: At many fuel stations in Bor, petrol prices skyrocketed to about 650 to 700 SSP per liter.  

The Jonglei State Drivers’ Union has warned that transport fees between Bor town and Juba would almost certainly treble in the coming days as petrol costs continue to climb owing to a lack of the commodity.

According to the drivers’ union, a liter of petrol used to cost about SSP 350 but now costs between SSP 650 and SSP 700 at many fuel stations in the state capital, Bor.

Deng Kur, Secretary-General of the Jonglei State Drivers’ Union, explained in a report seen by NCMP that public transportation companies were losing money owing to gasoline price increases.

“Last month, we wrote to the government requesting that transportation rates be raised due to a rise in gasoline prices, and the administration neglected to reply, and now the price of fuel has doubled, “Deng lamented.

Mr. Deng encouraged the state government to control gasoline pricing in the market, claiming that fuel dealers have taken advantage of the absence of oversight and are now selling the commodity at whatever price they want.

According to Samuel Ateny Pech, Director of Revenue at Bor Municipality, the increase in petrol costs is due to a lack of items on the market. He said that petrol providers are experiencing delays on the Ugandan side of the border owing to a variety of trade impediments, including hefty tariffs imposed by the latter.

Mr. Pech added that “we urge the national government via Nilepet to provide the state capital, Bor, with petrol that can be supplied at a reasonable price in order to ease the fuel issue in Jonglei State.”