Economic Reform Committee officials inspect Ezra Power Plant in Gumbo. Credit: Ministry of Finance and Planning.

The Economic Reform Committee has inspected Ezra Power Plant in Gumbo to assess its fuel needs after the company requested tax exemption to support power supply in Juba.

A sub-committee of the Ministerial High-Level Committee on Economic Reform, led by Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation James Mawich and Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Onyoti Adigo, visited the plant to review its Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) requirements.

Minister Mawich said the visit followed Ezra’s request for tax exemption to help maintain smooth electricity operations in Juba.

He said the team assessed the plant’s fuel storage capacity and requirements to determine how it can continue providing stable and affordable electricity to residents of the capital.

Mawich said the High-Level Committee approved the release of 20 trucks out of 100 trucks held at the Nimule border post, pending a case-by-case review of tax exemption requests.

He said Ezra Power Plant and officials from the Ministry of Energy and Dams will submit a report to the committee to support the review of the company’s request for tax exemption on Heavy Fuel Oil supply.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Dams, Macham Macham Angui, said fuel subsidy through tax exemption is important for Ezra and JEDCO to help maintain stable electricity prices.

Ezra Power Plant Country Operation Manager Amanuel Ghebre said the company remains committed to complying with South Sudan’s laws and providing services within the legal framework.