Ezra Construction and Development Group, the majority shareholder in the Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO), has formally refused to implement a recent presidential directive to lower electricity tariffs, stating the order lacks the necessary clarity to be executed.
The move effectively postpones anticipated financial relief for Juba residents and businesses grappling with high energy costs.
In a letter addressed to JEDCO’s Managing Director, Wondimu Tenkir, Ezra instructed the utility company to maintain the current tariff structure and continue operating under the existing contractual framework.
The company has called for urgent consultations with the Ministry of Energy and Dams and the South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) to resolve the issue.
The directive from President Salva Kiir Mayardit was issued last month following widespread public complaints about the high cost of electricity in Juba, which ranks among the most expensive in the region.
The order was intended to ease the economic burden on citizens and was widely welcomed as a critical step toward making electricity more affordable.
In its communication, Ezra stated it is seeking discussions to “clarify the basis and modalities of the order.”
The company stressed the need to find a solution that aligns with the government’s objective while also safeguarding its significant investment in the city’s power infrastructure.
This impasse leaves Juba residents in a state of uncertainty, as the promised reduction in their monthly electricity bills is now delayed indefinitely.
The government has not yet issued a formal response to Ezra’s position. The next steps will depend on the outcome of the proposed high-level consultations between the company and government energy officials.
