By Correspondent

The Ministry of Trade and Investment in Eastern Equatoria State said that fuel prices have been reduced to normal levels in Torit.

In a statement to local media early this week, the state minister, Ruth Mario Boga, called on fuel companies to reduce prices from 6,400 South Sudanese Pound to 6,000 South Sudanese Pounds, lower than fuel prices in Juba. She explained that Eastern Equatoria State is closer to the border, and therefore transportation costs will be much cheaper than other states.

She said: “We held a meeting this morning with companies and a representative of the Eastern Equatoria State Fuel Importers Association regarding the reduction of prices. We asked them to reduce them, because we are supposed to be lower than Juba.”

A fuel station manager, Mukhtar Rashid, indicated that the government directed them to reduce fuel prices to 5,800 but after serious negotiations with the Minister of Trade and Investment, they agreed to sell fuel at 6,000 South Sudanese pounds per litre.

He stressed: “After long negotiations, we agreed on a price of 6,000 South Sudanese pounds per litre.” It is noteworthy that the government authorities in Eastern Equatoria State called on fuel companies this week to reduce prices in the market, to cushion consumers during the current tough economic situation.