Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan on Friday activated an agreement with Russia for the latter to construct 5 dams that will generate over 2,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power in the country, a top diplomat said.
The cooperation agreement reportedly signed in 2018, was renewed in a meeting between Kremlin and Juba J1 officials, a day after President Kiir met his counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
South Sudan Ambassador in Moscow Chol Tong Mayai said the five dams will be built in Fula, Laki, Sakure, and Bedden among others.
The mega projects have an estimated cost of 1.47 billion U.S. dollars.
Ambassador Mayai did not indicate when the construction work will start but explained that the initiative will be completed by 2035.
“We were supposed to sign this memorandum of understanding in 2018 but this memorandum will be renewed, and the company has agreed that it will be signed in Juba,” Mayai told state-owned television SSBC.
“I think this is the beginning of the cooperation between South Sudan and Russian Hydro we have the opportunity to develop Hydro water and clean energy.”
South Sudan has one of the lowest electricity access rates, with over 90 percent of its over 12 million population without a connection.
Most businesses in the country depend on diesel-powered generators to operate.
On his part, Arterm Sokhikya, the Russian Head of International Co-operation said his country is willing to implement several projects in South Sudan.
According to him, the cooperation agreement will also build water supply and treatment facilities.
“The agreement was signed in 2018, but this is an activation of the agreement in Russia, and we hope in several years we can speak about the particular thing we can achieve together starting from today meeting and the visit of President Kiir,” Sokhiya said.
The agreement comes after South Sudan signed with both Ethiopia and Uganda to import hydroelectricity from the two countries.
It also comes on the heels of another uncertainty over the position of downstream countries like Egypt and Sudan, who have conflicted with Ethiopia over a newly built mega-dam.
South Sudan and several African countries have been looking to bolster relations with Russia, which is under international condemnation over its invasion of Ukraine.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
