In a joint effort to enhance the quality and safety of electrical appliances in South Sudan, the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (NBS) and The East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE) organized a workshop on the inspection and testing of electrical appliances.
The workshop, which started on Monday aimed to equip participants with the skills needed to ensure the standardization of lighting and energy systems in South Sudan, especially for imported products.
Canon Goddy Muhanguzi Muhumuza, the Executive Director of EACREEE, said his outfit participated in the workshop but also provided lighting and testing equipment to South Sudan.
“The testing equipment will play a crucial role in standardizing the lighting and energy systems in South Sudan, particularly when assessing the lighting equipment entering the South Sudanese market,” he said. “This will not only reduce energy waste but also contribute to the enhancement of our renewable energy and energy efficiency systems.”
Meanwhile, Eng. Denis Ariho, the Lead Technical Expert for the East African Community (EAC) on the Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances Project at EACREEE, stated that the equipment they provided is used to test lighting technology, such as LED lamps, as they enter the market, either at the border or within the Standard Bureau’s laboratories.
“The East African market has been inundated with low-quality and inefficient products so having this equipment in every country within the region will significantly mitigate the influx of inferior or substandard products,” Eng. Ariho explained.
For his part, Majak Deng Kuol, the Deputy Executive Officer of the NBS, emphasized the importance of educating individuals on the proper use of the newly acquired equipment.
“Our bureau will engage in public awareness campaigns to ensure people can effectively utilize this equipment to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones,” he said.
The three-day workshop, attended by students from the University of Juba and NBS staff marked a pivotal moment in South Sudan’s efforts to uphold electrical appliance standards.
As part of the initiative, EACREEE also handed over inspection and testing equipment to facilitate ongoing quality control measures.