South Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Dams, with support from the World Bank, on Thursday launched a USD 53 million electricity access project which also aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of the energy sector in the country.
Dubbed the Energy Sector Access and Institutional Strengthening Project (ASSIST), the project is divided into four components with the first being grid densification and extension of electricity in Juba and its environs which is estimated to cost USD 20 million. The second component is mini-grid energy estimated at USD 13 million, the third component, off-grid electrification of health and selective public institutions through standalone solar systems, is aimed at ensuring health facilities are supplied with enough lights and is estimated to cost USD 10 million.
The last component will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Energy and Dams, South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC), and other relevant institutions, among others.
Speaking at the function, Peter Marcello, the energy minister, said the purpose of the project is to ensure the population in Juba and the surrounding areas are connected to electricity.
Among the towns that will benefit from the USD 53 million project are Yei River County of Central Equatoria State and Malakal in Upper Nile State where solar street lights will be installed.
“We will ensure that this project truly benefits our people. I would like to emphasize that power sector infrastructure development in South Sudan can only be well developed if the sector is provided with adequate finances and strong political support,” he said. “We aim to provide electricity access to thousands of households, small-scale businesses, and educational and health facilities.”
Meanwhile, Lam Tungwar, the undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Dams, said only one percent of the country has access to electricity, and only 30 percent of the residents and businesses in Juba are connected to electricity.
He said that starting from April 2023 to April 2028, the five-year project mainly aims at supplementing the current power supplied by the Juba Electricity Distribution Corporation
“The project aims at benefiting about 50,000 households and 90 health institutions across the country” Tungwar added.