Juba motorists have expressed alarm over the rising cost of petrol in the city.
Despite the fact that South Sudan has had consistent gasoline pricing for over four months, most petrol stations in Juba had huge lines as motorists tried to acquire fuel on Monday.
The majority of motorists told The City Review on Tuesday that they had been unable to acquire gasoline for four days.
As a result, most gas stations have opted to raise their rates.
Jal Jal, a Juba driver, said he filled up his vehicle at the previous price of SSP350 per litre five days ago, but he was startled to see practically all Juba gas stations boost their pricing from SSP350 to 500 per litre.
“I believe it is already two days, but some claim four.” Fuel prices have risen from SSP 380 to SSP400 or SSP450, with some even reaching SSP500, depending on the proprietors of the gas stations.
“Depending on when one gets it, a litre costs between SSP700 and SSP800 on illegal marketplaces,” Jal stated.
He noted that pinpointing the source of the gasoline price rise is challenging.
Gadi Magai, another driver, told The City Review that he had been purchasing petrol at the new price of SSP 500 per litre for three days.
“The remainder of the gas stations now sell a litre at SSP 400, 450, and up to 500, maybe just for Trinity petrol station and Nile Petty, which one does not know when and to whom those individuals are selling,” Magai said.
“Yes, when Trinity and Nile Petty open, at least you’ll buy it at affordable rates,” he said, “but the others, they’ve raised all their prices.”
According to Magai, there are rumors that truck owners are complaining about being overcharged on the Nimule border, claiming that this is the cause of the country’s gasoline scarcity.
Trucks are stranded.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Hafi, one of the gas station assistant managers, said that they had been unable to get fuel owing to concerns about overtaxation at the border crossing.
“We’re not selling high; we simply add something little, maybe in a few locations, but we’re thinking about our clients’ situations.” Yes, some persons who are selling at a premium may have a valid motive to do so. “We just add SSP 100 to the original price,” he said.
However, I believe you are aware that the oil trucks here have been experiencing difficulties for about two weeks now because, as they claim, they were overcharged at the crossing check,” Mr. Hafi continued.
Similar gasoline price rises occurred in Juba City in September of this year, when international truck drivers went on strike for over a month at the Elegu border post in northern Uganda, seeking security from the South Sudan government before entering the country.
This happened when the nation was unable to get any gasoline, resulting in a fuel scarcity. As a consequence, the cost of the limited accessible fuels has skyrocketed.
Attempts to contact business leaders for comment were not immediately fruitful.
