Juba City will not have electricity for the next six to eight weeks due to a lack of spare parts to maintain generators, said Minister of Electricity and Dams Jema Nunu Kumba.
“We have been told by the company that within six to eight weeks they will be able to deliver the spare parts and fix the machines,” Kumba said.
Power in Juba has been a major challenge since South Sudan’s independence nearly four years ago, with most residents, businesses, and government offices running on personal generators.
Kumba told reporters in her office on Monday that only two of the city’s eight generators are functioning. Those two generators supply power to Juba Teaching Hospital, Juba Complex, and Al Sabab Children’s Hospital with an emphasis on water stations.
Kumba said the company from Finland that supplied the generators is the only firm with spare parts.
The Ministry of Cabinet Affairs has released 1.35 million Euros for spare parts and maintenance.
Kumba said that the process of buying the parts takes a long time because they must finalize the transaction with the legal department and the Central Bank.
“For the fuel there is no problem,” Kumba said. “But still we will not be able to operate to full capacity because some of these machines need complete overhauls so that they can function.”
Jema Nuna Kuma, Minister of Electricity and Dams, speaks to reporters in her office. (Radio Tamazuj)