S. Sudan still pursuing multi-dollar power project: official

June 21, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government has denied reports that it abandoned its initial plan to build a power project at the Nimule border town, an initiative that would reduce the country’s dependency on generators to run various activities.

“We did not abandon the project and it has not died. This is a development project which the government would never abandon. The problem now is that the country is at war, which has shifted the focus and plans”, finance minister, Deng Athorbei said Friday.

The project, he said, was to be jointly funded by government and its development partners.

“The arrangement was that this power project, since it is huge, requires helping hand,” said Athorbei.

“The government was pay part of it and development partners come in with their contribution. The government of Norway was one of the partners. It agreed to contribute $135 million and the government of the Republic South Sudan agreed to contribute $33 million and actually we started well and paid $3 million”, added the finance minister.

The project, Athorbei further said, was to have been completed by end of May this year.

(ST)