South Sudan to build a new Juba city

April 6, 2007 (JUBA) — The vice-president of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) announced at a press conference a master plan to develop a new Juba capital city centring around Gondokoro Island.

The proposal and plan is made in conjunction with the chief executive officer of the Ugandan company, “Made in Africa Investment Bank”, the Juba Post reported.

In the proposal, the “new Juba” will start near the Nile Comfort Hotel and proceed northward to Mangalla. The extremely ambitious project expects completion by 2015 and would cost billions of dollars.

The plans and assessments alone are priced at 5.2mn US dollars for four studies. The presentation made with CEO of the Ugandan company, Geoffrey Onege-Obel, commenced by comparing Gondokoro Island to the current city of London. The island would become the heart of the GoSS while the east bank would become an industrial zone and the western bank would primarily be for the army and police.

A new airport with a 3.5km runway, a river port and a railway line that connects to Gulu, Malakal and Lokichoggio is also part of the scheme.

According to the design consultant, Philip Curtain, the outlook of the “modern Juba city” would be based on other cities such as London, Paris and Brasilia.

City tramways and a hovercraft ferry were all part of the fantasy new city. To power such a city, Vice-President Machar said a solar power station based at the top of the 990 metres high Lado Mountain would be used.

Another source would utilize under water river currents that power electricity turbines.

Power would be provided by private companies that have won international bidding. Those suggested include Britain’s ATG [as received] who is conducting feasibility studies for a 600 megawatt power plant and the German Prestige company, currently exploring the use of Fula Rapids [past Juba].

If the population is convinced by the master plan, the vice-president added, those who will be forced to relocate their homes from the new construction site will be compensated.

A total of 1.5bn would be needed for the urban construction, sewage system and power stations.

All state towns would have to wait until the massive new Juba city was completed. However, if the proposal is rejected, Rumciel is identified as a alternative location; an area previously considered as a potential site for the capital of South Sudan.

Governor Clement Wani is currently the high-chief of the Rumciel area. Up-to-date, the project has no financial backers to implement it.

(Juba Post)