The Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) has resumed operations after nearly a week of a power blackout in Juba. Last week, the company shed off power in all the lines across the city after days of stalemate with the South Sudanese stakeholders over lack of financial commitments.
Businesses and service providers entirely relying on electricity were either interrupted or operations halted much to the chagrin of residents.
The company accused South Sudan’s government of lack of commitment to the 2017 contractual agreement which tasks the country’s Central Bank to pay operational costs worth 3million dollars monthly. But the government says it lacks enough money to fund the operations of the company.
On Friday 9, South Sudan’s Ministry of Electricity and Dams promised to resolve the matter with the electricity company.
In a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, the company said it would resume normal power supply on Sunday 11, Central African Time (CAT) electrifying all the lines across the national capital Juba.
“JEDCO has been informed by the Ezra construction and Development Group that power will resume today, Sunday 11 of April at 6:00 PM this evening.”
“All the lines will be electrified starting that time. For your safety, do not carry any work on electricity lines and supplies,” the letter reads.
JEDCO further apologizes for the inconveniences caused.
In a telephone interview with Radio Tamazuj on Monday, a senior official for JEDCO who does not want his name to be mentioned confirmed the resumption of power supply in Juba.
“As we communicated on the Facebook page and to the news media outlet that we got confirmation from the power plant that they would start distributing the power. Based on that then, we had to distribute power that we receive to the end customers because that is the responsibility of JEDCO,” he said.
Most Juba residents have given mixed reactions concerning the return of power in Juba in an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Monday (today).
A 37 years old government civil servant based in Juba, Mr. Peter Mabior Arol complained that the government should have used part of the money they paid to Ezra Construction and Group Company for paying its civil servants who have spent over six months without getting salaries.
“I am complaining about just one thing as yesterday these lights were on. They paid 300 million dollars, and then my issue is this. If they just get 1 million dollars and pay all the government workers, it will help us just for a few days. Why are they paying for power supply when we are hungry? We are not even feeding our children even our wives. And almost they are running away, actually even today many of them will run away because we are not able to feed them,” he lamented.
Another Juba resident Mary Hadia Philip says the return of power in Juba is welcome news for her.
“I have seen power, it is really good. When power is in the city like this, it is really good because without power many things will be at a standstill,” she expressed.
Juba resident, Richard Drici also expressed his excitement. "I really feel so excited because power has come back. Because three days back, there was no power and local community members were not able to charge their phones, but now everyone feels proud because power has come back to the city.”
On Wednesday, a member of parliament in the government of South Sudan Hon. Salva Mathok Gengdit suggested that the government of South Sudan buy off the power plant from Ezra construction Group which constructed the power plant and the Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) so as to own its operations.
The company says the government has not been paying them for several months making it difficult for them to import power plant materials meant for operating the power station in Juba.