[Juba, South Sudan, TCT, By Philip Buda] The long awaited electrification of South Sudan's capital Juba is finally a reality as Ezra Power Plant Juba launched its first 33 Mega Watts electric power on Thursday the 21st November 2019. President Salva Kiir Mayardit together with First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit presided over the launch.
[Juba, South Sudan, TCT, By Philip Buda] The long awaited electrification of South Sudan's capital Juba is finally a reality as Ezra Power Plant Juba launched its first 33 Mega Watts electric power on Thursday the 21st November 2019. President Salva Kiir Mayardit together with First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit presided over the launch.
Other Dignitaries in attendance were South African Vice President David Mabusa, the African Development Bank Country Manager Cano Benedict, Jubek State Governor Augustino Jadalla, Ezra Company Managing Director Ghebrengus Ezra and the team, Power China delegates, and government officials among others.
President Kiir applauded Ezra and the partners behind the project. He said the government is making attractive investment policies to entice more investors to compete in the investment market. He added that the government has plans to implement 1,080 Megawatts from Fulla Dam and 400CBM distribution lines connecting Karuma and Juba by 2023.
Ezra Power Plant Juba is a joint venture between the Government of South Sudan and an Eriterian Private Company Ezra Group with Funding from the African Development Bank, according to Dhieu Mathok, the Minister of Energy and Dams.
The Giant Generators Power Plant is situated in Gondokoro of Magala County in Jubek State on the eastern bank of the Nile River.
National Minister of Energy and Dams, Dhieu Mathok said, Ezra, a registered Company in South Sudan was awarded the project of building 100MW power provision in Juba in 2017. They are to build and operate the Power plant for 17 years before handing over ownership to the government.
As part of the deal, Mathok said the Company is also going to offer capacity building to the locals by sponsoring local students to universities.
They also promised to procure two tractors for indigenous farmers, construct schools and houses for the leadership in the area.
The project is expected to be implemented in four phases, with the first 33mw complete, it is expected to connect up to 3,000 households in Juba and light up most streets.
Minister Mathok said the project is his ministry’s short-term plan of electrifying all the Cities in South Sudan through Generators and solar energy power Plants but it has a long-term plan of generating hydro-power from the Fulla Dam in Nimule to provide clean sustainable energy to the Citizens.
In 2015, the World Bank reported that only 1% of the population in South Sudan have access to electricity. However, Mathok said with the launching of this first phase of 33mw this percentage is going to increase significantly as they targets to connect the main Cities in the country at the completion of this project.
Mathok added that African Development Bank funded the expansion of the distribution network in Juba to the tune of 33 million US dollars which the government contracted Power China to implement the project.
Ghebrengus Ezra the Managing Director of Ezra Group of Companies said Ezra finances the project solely and has invested more than 280 million US dollars into the project and are 100% dedicated to providing efficient 24 hours electricity to the residence of Juba as they have planned six months in advance.
Ezra said they are in good terms with the indigenous of the area as they are obliging to their social corporate responsibility.
However, he appealed for government support as he was quick to note that lack of access to hard currency will hamper efficient supply of electricity to the citizens since the spare parts for maintenances of the engines have to be expected from abroad.
Jubek State Governor Augustino Jaddala Wani acknowledged that the project will enhance Investment and create employment opportunities for the youth.
Jadalla also noted that his state allocated another 4 square kilometers of land for the setting up of a solar energy Plant in Magala County a project the minister earlier mentioned.
The Juba electricity power will be distributed by the South Sudan Electricity Commission to the final users. The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Deng Awar said they have 11,200 users and expect to add another 20,000 users.
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