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The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) has, approved a new uniform factory price for the sale of bundles of sachet water after conducting a cost of service study.
The Commission estimates that the average cost of production of a bundle of sachet water is between SLL3500 and SLL4000, according to the Director-General, Emmanuel Mannah. The Commission has set the sale of a bundle of sachet water at SLL4500 in factories, and not to be sold for more than SLL6000 to the final consumer.
At the last cost of service analysis in 2019, the average cost of production of a bundle of sachet water was between SLL2000 to SLL2500, and the factory price was set at SLL3500 per bundle.
Mr Mannah said the Commission surveyed the cost of materials for sachet water production recently and showed that prices had gone up. This followed an adjustment in the tariff structure of the Guma Valley Water Company in November last year, and SALWACO in April this year, increasing the cost of water sold to sachet water-producing companies.
Considering the cost of service in the production for companies engaged in the production and sale of sachet water in the country, the Vice President of the Water Union, Hudroge Amin remarked that quality may be compromised if producers are allowed to get only SLL500 per bundle.
Meanwhile, the Commission said each sachet should be 500 milliliters, 20 units per bundle, and the water should be of the highest quality and fit for drinking, or risk facing penalties including shutting down a non-compliant company.
