The South Sudan Chamber of Commerce says about five water factories have stopped operating due to scarcity of hard currency in the market.

The unnamed companies need the US dollars to import raw materials from the neighboring countries.

The rate of the US Dollars against the South Sudanese Pounds has gone high.

One US Dollar is exchanged at 7.2 South Sudanese Pounds in the parallel market, known as the black market.

The Chairperson of the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce, Simon Akuei says the Chamber will visit the water factories.

“We will have clear data with them in Chamber of Commerce to be able to see exactly who are operational and it will also require the Chamber of commerce to go to these factories and identify,” Mr Akuei told Eye Radio.

“Our interest is that all the water companies should work; should be able operate. And we are happy that the government has given its commitment to be able to support them with the allocation of hard currency at the Commercial Bank rate.”

The small bottle of water is at 2 South Sudanese Pounds while the big bottle costs 3 South Sudanese Pounds.

Mr Akuei added that the water companies have agreed to reduce the prices today.