The South Sudan Manufacturers Association has announced the resumption of operations by water bottling companies after days of protests over what they called excessive environmental fees.
Earlier this week, the association Chairperson Adam Kubanja, complained of the high charges imposed on the companies, which prompted the temporary shutdown of operations.
However, speaking in Juba on Thursday, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Joseph Africano Bertel explained that the resumption followed an agreement on Wednesday with the managers of the bottling factories.
Bertel stated that both parties agreed that the companies would pay an environmental fee of 0.20 cents per kilogram of preform. However, the fee is refundable as long as the companies collect and return the bottles. Bertel emphasized that the initiative aims to keep the environment clean.
“A meeting between the managers of the water bottling factories and the ministry was held yesterday where the position of the factories was heard and amicably responded to,” Bertel said.
“We are glad to inform the public that the Water Bottling Companies have resumed their operations today, January 23, 2025 and will be paying the environmental fees accordingly. It is worth mentioning that the fee for a 50OML bottle is 1 cent, not 50 cents and a kilogram of preform is 0.20 cents.
The Undersecretary said the charges are in line with the country’s Financial Bill 2024/2025., and urged the companies not to overcharge the consumers.
Kubanja confirmed that the issue was resolved and the association carried out an inspection to witness the resumption of the water factories.
“The main concern of manufacturers has been the levy on preforms, which the water bottling companies are using to produce bottles to package their water. Our yesterday’s meeting came out with an agreement on the levy by the Ministry of Environment. The levy has been agreed upon by all manufacturers, and that is what led them to resume the operations today,” Kubanja confirmed.
Kubanja had warned that with the closure of the factories, more than 6,000 Sudanese were likely to lose their jobs.