Some young men offloading USAID-donated solar panels at the Eye Radio premises in Juba on Monday, 16th December 2024. Photo credit: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.

Eye Radio has received smart energy support from USAID – through its implementing partner International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) – to enhance access to information by ensuring communities in Greater Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions get reliable news through its relay stations.

Founded in July 30, 2003, the station is South Sudan’s first independent broadcast provider of news and information, formerly operating as Sudan Radio Service on shortwave and later on 98.6 SRS FM.

Eye Radio’s repeater stations in Bor, Malakal, Baliet and Kuajok of Warrap State were offline for three months following a power service transition, which created a significant information gap for millions of audiences there.

But on December 16, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its implementing partner IREX, handed over to Eye Radio management 60 solar systems, inverters, and batteries.

The renewable energy system will enable Eye Radio to install 10 solar panels in each repeater station with two batteries, providing the capability to power the sites without power interruptions.

“With this equipment, all people who want to go about their businesses can be able to get the information that are more important in terms of peace building, governance, civic engagement, said Boboya James, Acting Chief of Party for the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) in South Sudan.

“This also include democratic and economic news and information that is more necessary to help steer in employment opportunity for young people in South Sudan. So I think that it is the most critical aspect of the support we are providing to this radio station.”

Stephen Omiri, Chief Executive Officer of Eye Media, welcomed the donation to Eye Radio and expressed optimism that the support will enable the station to return back on air in Bor before Christmas.

“We will immediately start with Bor, which is accessible by road so anytime within this week before Christmas we might be on in Bor depending on the movement from here,” Omiri said.

“So the team will be meeting today and as soon as they meet, they will decide to move to Bor and do the installation. I think places like Malakal which is the next place will be next year as soon maybe in January or February depending on the movement of things.”

“Because, you see, it is expensive to move these things from here to Malakal and we have a serious  challenges with finance. So we will make sure that we get to Malakal and we will decide which side again are we going to restore is it going to be Baliet, is it going to be Kuajok.”

Eye Radio has installed a similar power system in Yambio and Aweil with financial support from German Embassy in Juba.

The modern solar power system provides stable, uninterrupted and clean energy to repeaters, ensuring the continuity of news and information dissemination in those locations.