JUBA – The European Union has announced a 40 million Euro ($46 million) in grant to South Sudan which will be used to import hydroelectricity electricity from neighboring Uganda.
EU Head of Mission to South Sudan Pelle Enarson announced this on Monday after meeting South Sudan Minister of Information and government spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) in February 2025 announced that it would unveil funds to finance the importation of electricity from neighboring Uganda to South Sudan.
Themba Bhebhe, AfDB South Sudan Country Manager, told reporters in Juba that the project would be jointly funded by the continental bank and the European Union (EU), at a cost of $200 million.
He expected the project to begin at the end of 2025, claiming that Uganda’s major electricity project will lower the country’s power prices per kilowatt to 11 or 12 cents per hour.
Bhebhe stated that the AfDB would sign a finance deal with the government and the EU, as well as officially launch the project, adding that the project will be implemented directly through the electricity utility business.
The AfDB country manager underlined that South Sudan was experiencing three-dimensional power challenges, including supply, inadequate generation, distribution, and cost, with research estimating a cost per kilowatt of 42.
“So, if you look at the region now, it costs about an average, from what I understand, about 10 to 12 cents per kilowatt hour, which means the South Sudanese pay four times higher than their counterpart in the region,” Bhebhe said.