Motorists in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State on Sunday issued a joint statement in which they called upon fuel stations to lower the sky-rocketing prices.
A liter of petrol or diesel now costs 600 South Sudanese Pound (SSP) yet it sold at 300 at the end of last year. 5 liters of lubricant for heavy-duty machines, cars, and motorbikes which cost 3000 now goes for 6000 SSP.
Deng Mou, a truck driver in Aweil town, said the fuel prices are becoming increasingly exorbitant and that commercial drivers can seldom afford it as they do not earn as much while having to maintain their vehicles and carter for their families.
“The prices are increasing, a liter is 600 SSP at petroleum stations, both diesel, and petrol. If you want to buy 20 liters, it costs 12,000 SSP. And the retailers sell 14 liters at 9, 500 SSP. There is an effect because this money is too much and spare parts are too expensive. Sometimes you work and if something happens to your car, you have to park it due to lack of money for repairs,” Mou said.
He proposed that a liter of fuel be sold at 300 SSP.
Philip Ngor, a motorcycle rider in Aweil East County, complained of the high fuel prices.
“Yes, the small bottle (half a liter) is 350 SSP in the black market. At the petrol stations, 1liter is 600 SSP. That one is expensive and as consumers, we suggest 450 SSP per liter. That, at least, is a good price,” Ngor said.
Some community members in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal’s various counties say they are affected by the costly fuel prices as commuter vehicles and boda-bodas also increase fares and transfer the burden to travelers.
“A liter is sold at 600 SSP and the small bottle is 400 SSP. That is huge money. Fuel is supposed to be sold at 200 SSP. Now, for someone to book a boda-boda from Malek Ale (the headquarters of Aweil South County) to payams is 1500 SSP,” said Peter Dau Thou, a citizen in Aweil South County.
In Aweil North’s Ariath Payam, boda-boda riders charge citizens 1500 SSP as transport fare to Aweil Municipal Council.
Amos Chan said, “The small bottle (half a liter) of petrol is 300 SSP and people import it from Aweil. This is too much money now. A boda-boda passenger pays 1500 SSP to travel to Aweil.”
A citizen in Aweil West, Ajuet Mawein Diing, said a small bottle of oil is 350 SSP while a full jerry can is around 10,500 SSP that they are not happy with the fuel prices and hope they reduce.
African Energy & Investment Petroleum Station’s representative in Aweil, Peter Manyuol, said there are a lot of problems causing the hike in fuel prices.
“Fuel is expensive because we have been using dollars to import it into the country. We import it from Kenya and Uganda. We heard that the refinery in South Sudan will start operations soon,” Manyuol explained.
“We receive fuel at Nimule border and bring it to Aweil. This is bought with Dollars, not Pounds. If it is bought in Pounds, it would be good and the border is also very far. Many taxes are charged on the way until you arrive in Aweil.”