Caretaker finance minister denied claims that his ministry failed to pay the fuel bills to a supplier contracted by the Electricity Corporation that led to a blackout in Juba.
Yesterday, Ajuoi Magot Chol, who manages South Sudan Electricity Corporation, told journalists that Juba was without electricity because the national finance ministry refused to pay some ten million South Sudanese Pounds of fuel bills to the contractor.Minister David Deng Athorbei told SCR News this morning that the ministry has paid the fuel to the supplier.
He explained that there is no power in Juba because the supplier’s barges were detained in Kosti by the Sudanese authorities.
Mr. Deng suggested that the only solution is for the government to strengthen its agency NilePet to import fuel from East Africa.
He added that it was very difficult to get fuel from Khartoum.
Mr. Deng confirmed that South Sudan Electricity Corporation deposits money collected from consumers in his ministry.
However, he added that the amount of money is far too small although he did not mention the exact figure.