Sudan Govt.: 15% deficit in flour production

The Sudanese Government anticipates that there will be a 15 per cent deficit in flour production in the country over the next year.

It has also revealed a decrease in sugar production, while there will be new electricity tariff increases over the next year.

Economic journalist Kamal Karrar commented to Radio Dabanga that “the deficit and the anticipated increase of electricity tariff is a natural product of the failed economic policies that have completely neglected the living conditions of the citizen”.

He attributes the decrease of industry in Sudan to the levies, taxes, failure to provide inputs, and devaluation of the Sudanese Pound.

Karrar says that the five-year programme adopted by the government in 2015 focuses on reliance on industry, noting that the deterioration in the industrial sector constitutes an indication of the collapse of other sectors.

Industry Minister Mohamed Yousef has predicted earlier in a statement to the Parliament a deficit in the production of flour and sugar from 548,000 tons in 2015 to 600.5 tons this year while the planned production is 1,200 tons.

He has attributed this to the problems of resources and liquidity that faced the sugar companies and affected their productivity.

The Electricity and Irrigation Minister Mutaz Mousa has demanded continuation to increase electricity tariffs to correspond with the cost.

He revealed a potential gap in electric power supply without explaining how much.

The Minister also announced in a statement before the Parliament the disruption of Arabic funds financing Setit and Atbara project because of debt accumulation.