South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir launched the newly built 100-megawatts (MW) power plant on Thursday that will supply the first phase of electricity to Juba and other surrounding areas, reported Anadolu Agency.
The power plant is being built by Ezra Company Limited from Eritrea. It will supply 33 MW of electricity in the first phase before completion of the entire project by 2021.
“To my fellow citizens, today marks the beginning of the new era: No more war. This is the time of development and services delivery to people,” Kiir said.
The president added that the power plant will help the country embark on post-conflict recovery after more than five years of conflict and spur development across the economic sectors.
South Sudan currently has one of the lowest electricity access with over 90 percent of its 12 million population lacking access to electricity. More than 70 percent of businesses depend on diesel-powered generators to operate, while most families rely on cheap kerosene to light up their homes.
Kiir said electricity will help in keeping a tab on pollution that results from large scale use of diesel in the environment, and assured the country that the government will focus on developing hydroelectric power and the renewable energy sector.
He also said that the ministry of energy and dams and South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) are planning to participate in bilateral interconnection with Sudan which will provide 220 KV transmission line from Renk to Malakal.
During the launch, Ghebrengu Ezra, the Managing Director of the Ezra Group, told reporters that the first phase of 30 megawatts has been launched and the company aims to finish the other four phases over the coming two years.
“Ezra group is willing to invest in this project without any guarantee. This first phase is going to supply electricity to about 50,000 to 70,000 households in Juba,” Ezra said.
