South Sudan has most expensive electricity tariff globally

South Sudan has the most expensive electricity tariff in the world, according to the World Bank Group.

The electricity tariff per unit at $0.36 is the highest in the region when compared with countries like Tanzania which charge $0.12, and Kenya and Rwanda which charge $0.09 tariff per unit respectively.

Neighboring Uganda charges $0.07 tariff per unit.

Kenta Usui, Senior specialist at World Bank Group disclosed that the country’s energy tariff tops the chart of the most expensive in the world.

“South Sudan has the most expensive electricity in the world,” Usui told journalists after meeting with Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Central Equatoria State Governor in Juba on Thursday.

Usui said South Sudan also has one of the lowest electricity coverage in the world.

“South Sudan has very challenging energy sector in which the country has one of the lowest electricity access rate in the world,” he said.

He said the World Bank will work with relevant institutions to address challenges facing the energy sector.  

“World Bank is reengaging in energy sector and working with ministry of energy and dams, and South Sudan Electricity Corporation to address these critical challenges,” Usui said.

According to the ministry of energy and dams, the country’s tariff average is 40 cents Kilowatts per hour.

A brief study carried out by 211 Check, an independent fact-checking platform, stated that South Sudan also leads other countries in the East African region in terms power tariff rate.

South Sudan relies heavily on the 100 Mega Watt thermal power plant built by Ezra Company Limited along the Nile River. The power plant was commissioned in November 2019 by President Salva Kiir. The power plant supplies electric