A water bottling company that has shut down its operations in Jonglei State says it needs a Letter of Credit of at least $100,000 to resume production.

The Sudd Water Bottling Factory stopped production last week because it could not import raw materials from Dubai.

In the commercial banks, $100 is selling at about 300 pounds. But in the black market, the rate rises to about 1,600.

Traders say they could not access the dollars in the commercial banks but can do so through a government policy known as the Letters of credit.

The CEO of the company, Joseph Majur Akoi, told Eye Radio in Bor that the high rate of the dollar in the black market has limited their ability to continue production.

“The LC was meant to be given to water factories, but it appears they went to individuals, and we the business community did not get it,” Mr Akoi said.

Earlier, businessmen in the state complained that LCs were being given to individuals who were not traders, but officials denied the claim.

Bor Town Mayor Nhial Majak Nhial says the closure of the company has affected the prices of water in the area.

He told Eye Radio the price of water has now doubled in the state capital.

The Sudd Water Bottling Company was established in 2012 as a joint venture between the state government and Join Access Kilobytes Technology.