Fula Falls revival gains urgency as JEDCO deepens load shedding

JUBA – South Sudan’s push to develop the long-delayed Fula Falls hydropower project has gained urgency amid worsening power shortages in Juba, exposing the country’s fragile electricity supply system.

The Minister of Energy and Dams, Maulana Agok Makur, visited the Fula Falls site on Friday in a fresh push to expand power generation through large-scale infrastructure. The visit comes at a time when residents of the capital are facing intensified load shedding by the Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO).

In a statement issued after the inspection, Makur reaffirmed the government’s determination to move the 800 megawatt project forward, stressing the need for long-term investment in the energy sector to support development and improve service delivery.

The European Union Delegation to South Sudan also expressed support for the initiative. Its head, Per Einar Einarsson, urged authorities to prioritise the project, while signalling the bloc’s readiness to contribute to dam construction and broader energy development efforts.

Local leaders in Eastern Equatoria State say the project could significantly transform electricity access. Nimule Mayor Cesar Longa Fuli described Fula Falls as a strategic priority, citing its potential to boost development at both state and national levels.

Located on the White Nile near the border with Uganda, Fula Falls has long been identified as a viable source of hydropower. However, repeated delays linked to financing gaps, technical constraints, and shifting policy priorities have stalled its implementation.

The renewed attention to the project comes as JEDCO enforces an extensive rotational load-shedding schedule across Juba, raising concerns about the sustainability of the current energy system.

In a notice dated March 25, 2026, JEDCO said it was implementing power rationing measures to manage limited energy reserves and maintain grid stability. The company attributed the move in part to the “ongoing Iran-US conflict and its direct impact on regional stability and global energy supply chains.”

Under the plan, electricity supply is being distributed on a rotational basis, leaving many residential areas without power for extended periods.

The explanation has drawn scrutiny from residents and observers, particularly as JEDCO has spent months carrying out maintenance works that already resulted in frequent outages prior to the latest geopolitical developments.

JEDCO currently relies on diesel-powered generators to supply electricity to the capital, a costly and limited system that has struggled to keep pace with growing demand.