JEDCO’s electricity pricing has outraged South Sudanese, and the government has agreed to take action.

Before the council of ministers meeting yesterday, the Ministry of Power and Dams filed a report on the high cost of electricity in Juba.

The government has approved a resolution to reactivate the local crude oil refinery in Bentiu in order to save the public from the exorbitant cost of power.

The Minister of Energy reminded the Council of Ministers that the cause for the skyrocketing rates of electricity was due to firms like JEDCO obtaining power from overseas.

Instead of depending on private enterprises, the government has taken the initiative to build its own crude oil refinery.

Speaking to the media following the Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said that the Ministry of Energy and Dams brought to the notice of the Cabinet in their Any Other Business meeting how electricity costs in Juba had risen.

Lueth said that the Minister reported on how electricity corporations like JEDCO criticized the purchase of energy from overseas.

He also mentioned resolutions and proposals made by the administration as options to resolving the matter.

“The Energy and Dams Minister has indicated that the high cost of electricity is due to the purchase of power from outside.”

As a result, the cabinet has accepted a suggestion on how to reactivate a local crude oil refinery in Unity in order to rescue the situation.” He stated.

Juba, the country’s capital, is served by a single power plant known as JEDCO. Judco’s power tariffs are unpleasant for its customers, causing public outrage.