South Sudan’s Juba Power Distribution System Rehabilitation and Expansion Project – implemented by the African Development Bank (AfDB) – is almost complete and is expected to promote security and transform lives and businesses in the capital city.
The AfDB and South Sudan’s government partially commissioned the power distribution network in November 2019, which has restored electricity supply in Juba’s central business district. The power grid is expected to add 100MW to the grid when fully completed. So far, 6,131 households and businesses have been connected to the grid.
“Our company used to rely on a 1,500kVA generator and spent an average of $75 a day on diesel. We bought 45,000 liters of diesel monthly,” says Araya Hizkias, owner of Aquana Water Company based in Juba. “Now we rely on public electricity brought to us by this new network. We don’t experience random damages to our machines anymore and things are working easier. We are making more savings and expanding production.” he added.
The Juba Power Distribution System Rehabilitation and Expansion Project is one of the AfDB’s first major energy sector interventions to improve livelihoods and build resilience in South Sudan. The government provided land for the construction of five customer service centers.
Electricity rehabilitation in South Sudan will unlock economic potential to drive growth and development. The network expansion will be phased out slowly into other cities and finally linked to neighboring countries.
