By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai
Diversity of economy has been a
widely intensity debate for long. Currently, oil revenue
makes up 98% of the country’s national budget. Current very low demand dropped
crude prices badly and that South Sudan economy will be hard hit. This is not
the first time oil prices fluctuate, it happens from time to time due to a
certain circumstances such as coronavirus pandemic. Thus, it is a time for
South Sudan to think strategically and stabilize the economy by developing other
sectors.
South
Sudan is rich with natural resources such as energy, mining, fertile land,
water, forestry, fishery, and livestock. There are mineral resources such as
Gold, Ironstone plateau and Copper in greater
Equatoria and Baher el Ghazal. Different types
of crops, vegetables and fruits, oil seeds and palm seeds, are available in the
all states. Tea, coffee, tobacco, Teak and Mahogany trees are available in
Greater Equatoria and Baher el Ghazal. Further, Acacia (gum) Cotton crop, livestock, fish, poultry and bee
keeping for honey production are available throughout the country.
All these available
resources potentialized various industry opportunities in
the country. Food production, from drinking water and other soft drinks to
alcoholic drinks, fruit and vegetable industries can be established. In
addition, dairy, meat, fish production are other industry opportunities.
Mining and chemical based
industries can be built to produce cooking oil, soap and flour. In the operational oilfields areas, the petrochemical industries for olefins (including ethylene and propylene)
and aromatics (including benzene, toluene and xylene isomers) can also be established. The
Kenaf industry is suggested for packaging materials production, paper
production from Papyrus in Sudd area, cotton textile and sugarcane industries.
Horns, hooves, skins, and
leather production, animal feeds mills and veterinary pharmaceutical industries
can be established in the biggest towns of South Sudan. Fabrication of doors
and windows frames, gates shelves and production of metal water tanks can be
produced. Tourism industry is also another area of interest, for instance, in
Nimule, Sudd area and other places throughout the country.
Industrialization cannot be
then achieved without a proper access to energy. For instance, the available hydropower,
biomass and solar energy resources can be used to generate electricity. The
hydropower sites are found mostly in Equatoria to Baher el Ghazal States.
Crude oil from oil
producing areas is another viable source for electricity generation. The
current electric power is supplied by diesel based generation which
characterized with poor infrastructure, lack of spare parts, maintenance and
lack of technical persons. Fula dam near Numlei town, is the biggest potential project
to generate electricity with capacity of more than 500 MW. However, there is a hydro
site near Juba with estimated capacity of around 130 MW and this could be used
to improve electricity service in the city.
An account under direct
supervisory of the president of the republic might be created for this purpose.
Therefore, allocation portion of oil money to start these industries will
guarantee the strongest and stable economic of the country. The proposed
industries create economic opportunities for the entire people of South Sudan.
The willingness of the people of each State to utilize the resources is the biggest
support to themselves and to their States.
Finally, I have an opinion
I must say, if the idea of enhancing all our natural resources in such a manner
that we established industries that generate income more than oil money, why
not keep that crude oil in the ground? In the other words, this oil itself
brings along insecurity and environmental impacts to human.
E-mail:
ater.amogpai@gmail.com
