Juba Faces Bottled Water Crisis as High Environmental Taxes Force Factories to Shut Down
A looming crisis is set to engulf the capital city as local bottled water manufacturers prepare to halt production due to a debilitating shortage of plastic bottles. Effective January 20, 2025, companies will be forced to cease operations following a significant new levy imposed by the Ministry of Environment, executed through its partner PLASCOM, which has disrupted the importation of essential bottle preforms for the past two weeks.
The sudden closure of water bottling manufacturers threatens to leave over 6,000 young people unemployed, exacerbating an already precarious situation where youth unemployment is linked to rising crime rates in the city. Local leaders are warning that the impending shortage of bottled drinking water not only endangers livelihood but also raises alarms about potential public health risks, including outbreaks of diseases like cholera and typhoid.
The Association of South Sudan Manufacturers (ASSM) is urgently calling for intervention from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, expressing concerns that the increased tax on plastic imports could triple water prices, making them unaffordable for the average citizen. “It is highly regrettable that the Ministry of Environment has enacted this policy without consulting stakeholders, and we urge them to explain the framework and implementation mechanisms,” stated Adam Kubanja, Chairperson of ASSM.
Local manufacturers, already committed to recycling initiatives, are questioning the rationale behind imposing hefty levies on them while they actively contribute to environmental efforts. Kubanja emphasized that the move could disincentivize investments in plastic recycling plants that are crucial for maintaining cleanliness in Juba.
“The burden of excessive taxes on basic commodities should not fall on the citizens,” Kubanja added, urging relevant authorities to facilitate an amicable resolution to prevent a decline in public health and safety.
As Juba braces for the potential fallout from this tax-related standoff, the need for dialogue between the government and water bottling companies has never been more critical. With production set to halt, residents may soon feel the impact of this unresolved dispute.
