Oil Industry in South Sudan Will Not Be the Same Again

 

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

 

Oil discovery can present a bright future while at the same time seriously harm the prosperity of the country. Mismanagement of oil revenues generates conflicts, poverty, environmental impact, political instability and puts the security and economy of the country at risk. Such a phenomenon is accompanied by a lack of rule of law, absence of transparency and accountability, corruption, and kleptocracy. This in turn resulted in ignorance of environmental measures, human resource policy manuals, etc. In such a manner, less attention is paid to education, training, health, infrastructure, and human welfare. 

At present, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), PETRONAS Malaysia, India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), SINOPEC (China), and Tri-Ocean Energy (Egypt) are the major oil producers in South Sudan. NILEPET is the only state-owned company represented in the oil industry. Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), and Sudd Operating Company (SPOC) are the consortia of those companies. The biggest share goes to CNPC followed by PETRONAS and ONGC. However, this share differs from one company to another, for instance, in DPOC CNPC share stands at (41%), PETRONAS (40%), NILEPET (8%), SINOPEC (6%), and Tri-Ocean Energy (5%).

Manpower in the oil industry is categorized into two: expatriates (foreigners) and nationals. South Sudanese nationals make up the majority of the employees, yet the expatriates remain the dominant workforce. This was due to little capacity that prevented the nationals from participating efficiently. Simply, low investment in training has caused the low capacity of the South Sudanese employees in the oil industry. Poor training was made intentionally to show South Sudanese employees were incompetent and that the expatriates will continue discharging all technical and crucial duties. As a result, South Sudanese remained the least paid employees in all three joint operating companies namely, DPOC, GPOC, and SPOC.

The oil production and operation in South Sudan is governed by the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) signed in 2012 and extended in 2018 up to 2027. Then, the agreement should address issues of financial transactions and transparency, environment, local content, and human resource policy manual (HRPM). There have been numerous strikes in the oil fields in Upper Nile State, Unity State and in Juba, either by oil producing communities or the national workers. Oil communities are demanding development projects in terms of schools, health centers, clean water, roads, electricity, and employment opportunities for oil communities' persons. And to address environmental impacts to humans, land, and animals. National workers are requesting oil companies to implement an updated HRPM that gives them their rights in terms of equal payments, allowances, loans, proper training, and social insurance funds among others. Unfortunately, all these demands have never come true.

In December 2020, the Ministry of Petroleum (MoP) launched the HRPM 2020 to replace that of Sudan. There are other three documents: Environment Audit, Local Content, and Financial Recovery Audit. Altogether, the documents address issues of oil communities' development projects and national workers' grievances. Even national companies interested in bidding with oil companies will be priorities as well. In January 2021, the MoP issued directives to immediately implement the new four documents. Instead, the management of DPOC, GPOC, and SPOC resisted implementing the directives. The partners probably, Chinese and Malaysians, have concerns about the implementation of the new HRPM 2020 and the other related documents.

In March 2021, delay in the response to the MoP directives triggered the national worker in DPOC to go for a strike. They were demanding better pay and the implementation of a new human resource policy. They also want an agreed salary structure, allowances, loans, social insurance fund, and personal income tax. In July 2021, the Council of Ministers approved a new HRPM tabled by the Minister of Petroleum Hon. Pout Kang Chol. The other three documents Environment Audit, Local Content, and Financial Recovery Audit are approved as well. Thus, the government has resolved that national employees in the oil sector should be paid equally with their international colleagues. In addition to the rest of three documents, which address the environmental impacts in oil-producing areas, oil communities’ development projects and national companies working in the oil industry.

On July 15, 2021, the MoP ordered all the oil operating companies to implement the new HRPM 2020 and local content documents. This marked the beginning of the positive of a real reform in the oil industry in South Sudan. Now, the HRPM 2022 has become a law, and the Sudan HRPM 2008 is canceled. The reform will not occur with a lack of rule of law, absence of transparency and accountability in the industry. The implementation of the four documents will guarantee the safe management of the oil revenues and that the public funds are correctly directed to execute the development projects. Now, the dream will come true.

 

The first phase of the reform has been achieved by making the four documents, HRPM 2020, Environment Audit, Financial Recovery Audit, and the Local Content mandated to oil operating companies. The second phase is the implementation of these documents which has already started by the HRPM 2020 and the Local Content Regulations.

All these achievements were not possible without the tireless support of able Hon. Pout Kang Chol the minister of petroleum. The government of the Republic of South Sudan chaired by the Gen, Salva Kiir Mayardit is highly appreciated for the recognition of the long demands by the national oil workers to reform the industry.

 

Challenges and solutions to electricity service in Juba city

 

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Juba with a population of about 500,000 hundred thousand is facing challenges to build a sustainable and reliable electricity service. The previously installed capacity of electric power was only 12 MW which was characterized by poor infrastructures, frequent power breaks, lack of spare parts, and lack of technical persons. However, this amount (12 MW) of electric power must be increased to at least 80 MW to match the increasing demand for electricity in Juba.

On November 21, 2019, a breakthrough occurred when a 100 MW Juba Diesel Power Plant launched by the President of the Republic Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit will supply electricity to Juba and other surrounding areas. The Plant which started its construction at the Gondokoro area of the eastern Nile in 2017 will first supply 33 MW before completion in 2021 by Eritrean Ezra Construction and Development Group Company.

For the first time since Independence in July 2011, Juba will have power girds to distribute electricity to customers. Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) and Ezra as well as the South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) collectively operating Juba's new grid. Therefore, access to electricity service has gradually improved and increased to 5%. The two projects, Juba Power Plant and Distribution Grid cost more than 300 million. Since the Juba Power Plant project still under construction Ezra will continue to operate it for the next 17 years starting from November 2019.

 

However, in May 2020 electricity service started facing problems to supply power to street lights in Juba city. It has become clear that the JEDCO informed Juba City Council to pay the bill for the street lights. The action was not immediately made as the discussion took long on who should pay the bill. In January 2021, Ezra Construction and Development Group has planned to shut down Power Plant if the amount of USD 3 million does not transfer to their account by the Central Bank. Again, Ezra repeated the same strategy in April 2021.

According to Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Ezra to sell generated power to JEDCO, and in turn, JEDCO sells electricity to customers in South Sudanese Pound (SSP). To sustain plant operation, the SSP collected by JEDCO should be converted to USD through the Central Bank. Unfortunately, the implementation of the agreement did not go well between Ezra, the ministry of finance, and the Central Bank.

Several hydropower sites along the way from Nimule to Juba have been identified to generate sustainable and reliable electricity services. To mention some, Fula can generate more than 1000 MW, Bedden can generate more than 700 MW and Lekki can generate more than 400 MW. To help resolve electricity poverty in Juba, the Juba barrage hydropower site about 5 km South of Juba city can generate 120 MW, which is quite enough to gradually phase out the unsustainable thermal electricity generation.

120 MW hydropower power plant can roughly cost USD 250 compared to USD 300 estimated cost to build Ezra 100 MW Diesel Power Plant. Running water and turbine will replace costly diesel fuel and expensive diesel engines respectively. The benefits of hydropower generation against thermal (diesel) generation are clear and easy to understand. They include the lowest operation and maintenance cost, flood control, irrigation, water supply, fish production, and generate power directly to the grid.

It would be a very interesting decision to place electricity service at the same level with roads network in the country. The proposed Juba hydropower plant project will not come true unless a budget is allocated to execute it. I believe it's possible, let's light up South Sudan with our own money and expertise. However, I wonder, how and where to get the fund?

E-mail: ater.amogpai@gmail.com

Sharing the Nile Waters: Will Egypt Oppose Dams Projects in South Sudan?

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Four Nile water agreements were signed between Britain, Italy, and France starting from 1891 to 1925 on how to deal with Nile water affairs. Finally, Britain managed to exclude the rest of the two colonial powers from east Africa and Nile water affairs.

The first Nile water agreement involved Egypt as the Nile basin country signed in 1929. In this agreement, the annual Nile water flow of 84 billion cubic meters divided between Egypt 48 billion cubic meters and Sudan 4 billion cubic meters.

In 1959 Agreement signed between Egypt and Sudan recalculated the 1929 agreement on Nile water. For instance, 55.5 billion cubic meters for Egypt and 18.5 billion cubic meters to Sudan. The agreement allowed Egypt to build the High Aswan Dam and Sudan to build Roseires Dam.

The Aswan Dam started in 1960 and finished in 1971 while, Roseires Dam began its construction in 1961 and completed by 1966. The agreements, 1929 and 1959, complicated the usage of the Nile water by riparian states. However, most of the nation's states were not independent then; therefore, they are not bound by these agreements after independence.

In 1999, the Nile Basin Initiative was established to include ten (10) countries, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt Eritrea as an observer. This initiative's main objective is "to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization of, and benefit from, the common Nile Basin water resources."

Since the 1959 agreement, Egypt keeps trying to increase its share from Nile water through Sudan. After Addis Ababa Agreement signed between the Southern Sudan Liberation Movement and the government of Sudan in March 1972, Egypt managed to convince Sudan's government to start Nile water projects in the current state of South Sudan.

In 1976, the Jonglei Canal project initiated to decrease the White Nile's loss while it passes through the Sudd swamps in the south of Sudan. The length of the Canal was 360 km and could secure an annual flow of water of around 4.7 billion cubic meters to Egypt. Sudd is Africa's largest wetland and one of the most extensive tropical wetlands in the world. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identified the Sudd as a globally key, unrepresented ecological system.

In 1983, one of the reasons why the SPLA/M revolted was the Jonglei Canal project. The founder of the SPLA/M, Dr. John Garnag de Mabior, did his doctoral thesis titled "Identifying, selecting, and implementing rural development strategies for socio-economic development in the Jonglei Projects Area, Southern, Region, Sudan" in 1981. One of his most definite recommendations in this project was that it could be an environmental disaster. 

By 1984, the Canal's digging had stopped when fighting erupted between the SPLA/M and Sudan's government. The construction of the Jonglei Canal started in 1978, and only 10 km remains to finish. And this ended Egyptian efforts in the 20th century to increase its share of Nile water from South Sudan.

The Canal project's main objective was not only to decrease the loss of water in the Sudd but also to collect the water from Nile tributaries and directed into the Canal towards Egypt. The result is the loss of the Sudd conservation site and the people's lives in the area.

In 2011, South Sudan got its independence and became a sovereign country and a member of the Nile basin countries. Thus, Egypt would reconsider its role to support its previous projects to increase its water share. Egypt is badly planning to expand its water share through the Jonglei Canal and cleaning the Nile tributaries basins projects in South Sudan. 

Egypt was one of the countries to quickly recognize the state of South Sudan and immediately established diplomatic ties. Further, Egypt offered diesel generators to the government of southern Sudan before independence to start the construction of power plants throughout the country. Also, Egypt gives scholarships for South Sudanese students at her universities every year. And other several supports in the form of training for government officials, medical aids, humanitarian aid, and others. Al these gifts are win to win cooperation between Egypt and South Sudan, probably for the exchange of Nile water projects.

Currently, South Sudan is busy with its internal issues, and the Jonglei Canal project is not one of a country's priorities. Electricity projects will start anytime from now by initiating dams' projects, mainly in Nimule and elsewhere. South Sudan will expect Egypt not to oppose the construction of dams' projects in the country.

Electricity Will Not End With Thermal Generation in South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

South Sudan with a population of about 11 million is facing challenges to build a strong economy. Industrialization and modernization cannot be achieved without proper access to electricity. Today, every ninth out of ten South Sudanese are without access to electricity and this makes South Sudan either rural or remote regions with no access to modern energy services. Access to modern energy services for South Sudan is defined as household access to electricity and clean cooking facilities. Electricity service is then characterized by poor infrastructures, frequent power breaks, lack of spare parts, and lack of technical persons. 

Because of its direct socio-economic and environmental benefits, access to modern energy services for cooking, lighting, and ICT seems to become a social, political, and economic priority to South Sudanese households and policymakers. In addition to its indirect benefits, modern energy services should be considered an important factor in growth in the country as well. Instead of recognition of this fact, progress remains slow as government and private sectors lack funds for the substantial investments needed for electrification. Further, household budgets are often too small to pay full cost recovering connection fees and tariffs.

The previously installed capacity of electric power was about 26.8 MW. This electric power was divided amongst six of South Sudanese towns: Juba (12 MW), Malakal (4.8 MW), Wau (4 MW), Bor (2 MW), Yambio (2 MW) and Rumbek (2 MW). However, this amount of power needs to be increased to at least 230 MW. Further, Juba at the moment needs at least 80 MW whereas, the rest of 5 towns need at least 150 MW. 

Electricity is produced by South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) from thermal sources with diesel being the only avai­lable fossil fuel used for electricity generation. Electricity was strictly supplied to industrial or commer­cial users in which there were no transmission grids existed, except that operating in Northern Upper Nile State to only supply electric power to central oilfield facilities. 

Due to common breaks of electric power and shortage of diesel, citizens, commercials users, health centers, schools, non-governmental organizations, and even government are shifting to electricity-based solar panels. It looks like solar energy systems can make relatively good business in Juba and other areas in South Sudan. 

On November 21, 2019, a breakthrough occurred when a 100 MW Juba Power Plant was launched by the President of the Republic Salva Kiir Mayardit that will supply electricity to Juba and other surrounding areas. The Plant which started its construction at the Gondokoro area the eastern Nile in 2017 will first supply 33 MW before completion in 2021 by Eritrean Ezra Company Limited. The Power Distribution Grid Project funded by the African Development Bank has as well started together with the launching of the Plant. 

For the first time in history, South Sudan will have power girds to distribute electricity to customers. Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) and Ezra as well as the SSEC are operating Juba's new grid. Therefore, access to electricity service has gradually improved and increased to 5% but only in Juba city. The two projects, Juba Power Plant and Distribution Grid cost 290 million and 38 million respectively. Since these projects are still under construction Ezra will continue to operate Juba Power Plant for the next 17 years. 

South Sudan is rich with renewable energy sources such as hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. Usually, hydropower plants have a low operation cost, however, their initial costs are high. The potential of hydropower plant capacity is estimated to stand at 5583 MW. This immediately potentialized the construction of a dam for electricity generation and water irrigation at Nimule town bordering Uganda. There are as well small scales hydro sites in Baher el Ghazal for stand-alone electric generation. 

Initially and according to the United Nations, there are levels of the quantity of electricity required to meet our daily basic needs. 

–    First, Base Level (50-100 kWh):

This electricity is used to supply basic needs such as cooking, heating, lighting, communication, healthcare, and education 

–    Second, Productive Level (500 kWh):

 This energy is used to improve productivi­ty for instance, water pumping for irrigation, fertilizer manufacture, mechanized tilling, agricultural pro­cessing, cottage industry, and transport fuel

–    Third, West Level (2000 kWh): 

Standards of those living in the West required to the number of domestic ap­pliances increased demands for cooling and heating (space and water) and private transportation

–    Unclassified Level (16 kWh): 

Standard use in South Sudanese to meet daily basic needs per person. This quantity of electricity is insufficient and substantially less than neighboring countries to meet the basic needs.

The following are recommendations to be considered for sustainable electricity generation and supply in South Sudan: 

– Incorporate other primary energy sources to the electricity mix and support the government plan to divert some crude oil into electricity generation

– Identify hydropower sites to construct dams for electricity generations and water irrigation system

– Attain and promote the further possibility of ob­taining international funding and expertise with which to build the electricity sector and incorporate renewable energy

– Develop an electricity sector which can be well-inte­grated with neighboring grids so that the coun­try can become a net electricity exporter

– Also, allow for the import of electricity which ser­ves to facilitate access and the security of electri­city supply

If such electricity is produced via renewables (predomi­nately hydropower) then more quantities of crude oil could be exported, strengthening its position as a net energy exporter and using profits to fur­ther develop and integrate other types of infras­tructure connections with other countries. Also, and for all the above, any electrification project is harmonized across the various govern­ment levels and non-governmental bodies – from the city and municipalities to the counties down to the Payams and Bomas. 

E-mail: ater.amogpai@gmail.com

Time To Stop Dependency In Jieng (Dinka) Communities Of South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Roughly, more than 80% of Jieng communities are living in rural areas without a proper access to modern services such as electricity, schools, and health services among others. Modernization started by colonization era and the notable firsts of Jieng went to schools at around 1940s. Most of them were born at around 1940s or earlier 1930s and started their schools at around 1950s or 1960s. They were born in villages where education was not a right and only younger children were sent to school.

Jieng is a very communal society in which everything is almost shared. For instance, marriage is a family responsibility rather than a personal. The main purpose of marriage is then to raise big family and produce many children. Normally, Jineg marry girls immediately after their first menstruation starting from 14 years old onward. Big family means wealth, power and protection as well as reputation in a society. In this regard, Jieng normally marry wives to their dead people (brothers, cousins, sisters etc.)  And attentively children of the same man name themselves after ghost fathers. Everything depends on cattle, the bigger the number of cattle herds, the many wives and children you have. Interestingly, Jieng in village will leave to seeking treatment but at the expensive of a relative in town. 

In Jieng communities, one man can reach to over thirty (30) wives and that children are still born and name after him despite of his death. Many explanations can be traced in here that his elder sons continue to marrying his wives. These sons can be older than some of his wives by 10 to 20 years which qualified them as their husbands. Another practice is that a man can marry to his uncles who are still alive. Further, if one of the family has fertility problem, his wife may secretly get pregnant from a family member probably a brother or a cousin.

In spite of the modernization, a few Jieng who moved to towns seeking education and employment still practicing those customs. However, their children who never grown up in villages face obstacles to accept or adopt those practices. This in turn has remarkably increased the level of burden to those Jieng living and working in towns.

Jieng are relatively rich people in term of natural resources that include fertile land, livestock, and fishers’ resources among others. Even the current oil operation in Upper Nile State and Unity state are mostly in Jieng areas. These are opportunities if properly enhanced could create prosperous societies who entirely depend on themselves. For instance, more than 20 million cattle herds own by Jieng communities, still these resources are not yet economically utilized. The fertile land not yet cultivated and fish in rivers and swampy areas not yet economically recognized by Jieng. Oil is a national commodity but law gives percentage to Jieng communities living inside operation zones which is another prosper opportunity. 

Dependency has become a very big issue in Jieng communities. Many use kinship to force their relatives deliver services. Productivity in Jieng community is very limited because of its communal characteristics. Jieng communities in towns should have introduced innovative or complimentary ideas. Marriage is a personal decision but this does not mean we should not involve our parents. The main purpose of marriage is to have a partner who completes the rest of his/her life with you. After marriage you are mandated to three priorities and responsibilities whether you are a man or a woman. The first priority is your family (wife/husband/children), the second priority is your parents (Father/Mother) and the third and last priority after you got married are your father/mother in laws.

Productivity and independency are to be encouraged and that livestock, fishers and lands should be economically oriented resources. It is true that some Jieng in towns own cattle herds in camps in rural areas, now it is a time to introduce veterinary medicine and improve health of livestock to better benefit the community.

It said “You shall not covet”. Productivity and Independency must be practiced and that this culture of desire what does not belong to us should be abandoned immediately. God helps those who are helping themselves. There is a different meaning between a person under a mountain and a person who is climbing.

Education will reduce illiteracy in Jieng communities. Education does not mean attending classes in schools and acquiring degrees or certificates only but phasing out conventional and adopting modernization culture. Education and modernization are better to improving our living style tremendously. It does not make sense if educated Jieng persons with tools of change and improvement in their hands still follow the traditions which are described as strange customs.

e-mail: ater.amogpai@gmail.com

Current and Future Trends of Engineering Education in South Sudan

By Ater Yuot R. Amogpai

Before 1990, there was only University of Juba in South Sudan with Colleges of Medicine, Natural 

Resources and Environmental Studies, Economic and Social Studies, Education and Rural Development. College of Engineering and Architecture was established by 1997 when university was operating in Khartoum. As a new established college, it has been benefiting from the University of Khartoum and Sudan University of Science and Technology. Thus, Students used to attend their lectures, labs experiments, workshops and libraries at these universities. It was not an easy task but the college managed to sustain and graduated professional engineers who in turn proved their performances in different engineering practices.

In 2011, the University has to move back to Juba after 20 years operational in Khartoum. The university returned to juba but with additional colleges such as College of Engineering and Architecture, College of Industrial Sciences, College of Arts, College of Management Science, College of Law, and College of Music and Drama. The existence university infrastructures in Juba could not accommodate all these colleges and therefore staff and students have to narrow themselves into small spaces to perform their duties.

There are several challenges facing the School of Engineering and Architecture, and that includes, lack of competent teaching staff, fully equipped library with digital and online presence. Limited ICT and laboratories, little resources for school to innovate, limited research capabilities among others. When I joined the Department of Electrical Engineering in January 2012, there was only one permanent staff, Dr. Martino Head of the Department. He used to teach Control Systems courses and I started teaching Power Systems courses. Communications and related other courses have to be outsourced. The same issue happened with Departments of Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture.

University of Juba is the only South Sudanese higher institution offers engineering education in the country. In 2017, I was short listed by the University of Rumbek of Science and Technology to outline the project of engineering education at the university. Unfortunately, the project did not kick off due to delay approval from the ministry of higher education.

Engineering students at the University of Juba struggle a lot to perform their labs and workshops duties. One of the requirements for engineering students to fulfill their graduation is to pass labs and workshop exercises. In fact, it is a teaching family of engineering who really tendering to offer a minimal requirement of engineering education with limited resources in hands. Just envisage, a student who graduated without labs and workshops exercises what engineering skills he or she acquires?

Though, it is a huge efforts but not difficult for those newly graduated engineers to practice a little knowledge they acquired at university. University is a self-learning and research institution, teaching comprises of only 25% and the rest of 75% is left for the student efforts. However, if labs and workshops are missed then engineering student is mandated to complete the rest of 50% through research and self-learning.

For better engineering education equivalents to other world engineering educations all supportive teaching methods must be made available. Labs, workshops, strong internet service and standard libraries connected to other world universities libraries should be first made ready. Memorandum of understanding with regional and international universities on engineering education should be signed.

Currently, one of the most challenging factors facing school of Engineering and Architecture is financial capacity. Lack of competent staff could be one of a negative aspects of financial constraints. A staff may find another source of income since salaries are not enough and systematically not deliver on time. If the staff is given the minimum incentives, they will be motivated and the University projects will not stall. Developing Masters and PhD programs would not only generate money, but intensify research capabilities of the school. Short courses or workshops for individuals, NGOs, private sector and government institutions add a value on school stuff. Diploma programs can as well be part of the school of Engineering and Architecture plan program.

Diversity of Economy a Strategic Focus for South Sudan

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