Fuel shortage hits Jonglei as dollar prices rise higher

November 3, 2015 (BOR) – Citizens in South Sudan’s Jonglei state have expressed concerns over shortage of fuel as traders turn to the little reserves in the black market.

“Prices have jumped from SSP8 to SSP60 per litre in the last three weeks. As such most motorists have grounded their bikes and vehicles, urging the government to monitor the transportation and sale of fuel in the state to avoid the rise of the black market practices.

Solo Silite, a boda boda in Bor, told Sudan Tribune that the shortage of fuel in Bor had made their business unprofitable, vowing to suspend the business till prices normalise.

“We increased the boda cost because of fuel, but people are not able to pay because the money is too much. So we are now taking people to short distance at low cost but no profit, the boda boda association must look into that to make sure that the cost of the fuel is brought down”, said Solo.

Santino Majak, a regular user of motorbikes, has complained of the high fares being charged.

“Boda bodas [motorbikes] are charging people too much, like from town to Langbar is about SSP15, but it SSP5 previously. Due to crisis of fuel in this town, that is why they charge us this amount of money”, he said, urging government to immediately intervene.

Majority of the gas stations remained closed for weeks. Abdi Khazar, who operated Standard gas station in Bor, said their suppliers now charge them at black market prices.

Abdi bamed the state government for not providing hard currency for transportation of fuel and bad road conditions.

“We don’t have fuel since the October, there is a big problem there in Juba, even the road is not good. We cannot manage it, so we just closed down our station until future notice”, he said.

“The fuel companies are selling it at high prices, we realized that they are selling it in black market in Juba. In the black market, they can sell at whichever the price they want. As foreigners, we have more problems than the people here, dollar is rare, nowadays, it is just going higher and higher, ssp1950 for $100. Some people just closed their businesses and went back to their countries”, added the business man.

Meanwhile, the state ministry of finance said they have collaboration with the central government in Juba to ensure fuel was supplied within a week. It is, however, not clear as to how many tankers would arrive in Bor, the Jonglei capital in a week or so.

(ST)