South Sudan’s Water & Electricity Minister to Deliver EAPIC Keynote

South Sudan’s Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation & Water Resources, Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, to deliver keynote at EAPIC in Nairobi
Regional power event to gather 1200 industry experts in August
“As a new nation, South Sudan will be proud to demonstrate to this upcoming regional conference of East African Power Industry that we have abundant energy resources which can be tapped for the common good and development” – so says the Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba, Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation & Water Resources for South Sudan, who will deliver a ministerial keynote address at the East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC) in Nairobi.
The 17th edition of EAPIC, taking place at the KICC from 27-28 August, is expected to gather some 1200 visitors this year, including from the region’s leading power utilities, large industries and investors as well as technology and service providers who will showcase their products on the exhibition.
Five major hydropower projects in South Sudan
The South Sudanese Minister says there are many opportunities for prospective investors in both generation and transmission in the energy sector in her country. She adds: “the Electricity Bill 2015 has been passed by Cabinet and awaits endorsement by Parliament. South Sudan has five major hydropower projects with bankable feasibility studies. These are Fula Rapids 42 MW, Grand Fula 890 MW, Shukolli 230 MW, Lakki 410 MW and Bedden 570 MW. The main challenge is the lack of funding for development of some of these projects.”

According to the Hon. Minister Kumba, “South Sudan welcomes investors to invest in the development of the abundant renewable energy potential in the country. The internal rate of return in these projects is attractive. Several incentives are provided for in the Investment Promotion Act in which the investors are guaranteed repatriation of their profit. Some of these projects are treated as regional projects and if developed will be connected to the East African Power Pool (EAPP).”
She continues: “the view of the Ministry is that these projects can be developed either as Public- Private Partnership (PPP), Independent Power Producer (IPP), Build, Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) or Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC).”
Cooperation with Sudan
With regards to cooperation between South Sudan and Sudan with regards to power she says: “there are options for South Sudan to interconnect with Sudan. Currently, the ministry is importing about 40MW from Sudan to Renk county, one of the counties in Upper Nile State. Plans are underway to extend the power to other parts of the state, once peace and stability returns to the area.”
Minister Kumba served as Governor of Western Equatoria State (March 2008 to May 2010), the first and only female Governor in Sudan at the time.
For the full interview with the minister: https://www.eapicforum.com/Pages/Detail/21740
New at EAPIC this year
Leading projects and people in the East African power industry will be honoured at the inaugural East African Power Industry Awards taking place as part of the upcoming EAPIC. The region’s triumphs and successes in 2014/2015 will be celebrated in seven award categories, ranging from Power Transaction of the Year, Clean Energy Project of the Year to the category of Outstanding Woman in Power.
Also new at this year’s EAPIC is the Clean Power East Africa conference track that will focus on renewable energy generation in the region which will enable delegates to learn more about the potential, technologies and processes for clean power.
EAPIC and the East African Power Industry Awards are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.