By Emelda Siama John
The World Bank, and the Central Equatoria State Government work to revive Juba and Yei electricity power Grid to enable the populations get sustainable, reliable and affordable power plant in the State.
The team of officials from the World Bank led by the Country’s Senior Energy Specialist, Mr. Kenta Usui, together with technocrats from the Ministry of Energy, Dams and South Sudan Electricity Corporation paid a courtesy call to Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony in the State Government Secretariat General.
Speaking to the Press yesterday after the meeting, the Senior Energy Specialist for World Bank, Mr. Kenta reiterated the organization’s commitment towards re-engaging in the energy sector and working closely with the relevant Government’s institutions to deliver on their organizational mandate.
“The meeting centered on modalities to revive Juba and Yei grid to enable the populations get sustainable, reliable and affordable power plant in the State,” he said.
The Country’s Senior Energy Specialist, Emmanuel Kenta Usui, said that South Sudan faces a very challenging Energy sector; the country has one of the lowest electricity accesses in the world along with one of the most expensive electricity in the world.
“World Bank is engaging in the energy sector and working with the Ministry of Energy, South Sudan electricity Corporation to address critical challenges, and the upcoming operations will be a pilot project which is aimed at expanding and rehabilitating Juba as well as Yei grid,” he said.
He stated that, the project will energize people’s lives in South Sudan, driving economic growth and enhance dividends of peace and then poverty relaxation across the state.
The Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony thanked World Bank and its trusty partners especially the Ministry of Energy and Dams and South Sudan Electricity Corporation for considering Central Equatoria State as a pilot project especially in the Yei project which was expected to kick off soon after extensive assessment mission that was carried out by the Organization late last year.
Governor Adil assured them of his administration’s readiness to support the initiative and directed the Commissioner of Yei River County, Hon. Aggrey Cyrus, and Mayor of Juba City Council, H.W Michael Lado, to exhibit maximum level of cooperation with the above-mentioned institutions for the successful delivery of the project which he believes will reduce the high cost of commodities in the market and the growing factories which are counterproductive to the environment.
“The initiative is in line with one of the key policy pillars of the State which is the revival of the economy through agro-industry,” he said.