Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, South Sudan’s minister of petroleum, has called for continued collaboration in the oil industry between Sudan and South Sudan as Khartoum undergoes political turmoil
“The lifeline and the backbone of the economies of South Sudan and Sudan must continue to stand strong, in spite of significant political changes in the Republic of Sudan,” said the minister.
“The economies and the people of Sudan and South Sudan share a common destiny. The flow of oil is vital for the people of both nations and shall remain uninterrupted,” he added.
“We call for a measured, methodical approach to make sure the industry continues to develop, that our people can rely on employment from the petroleum industry, and that our nations can continue to depend on this resource. This is the super glue that binds our common destinies and ensures peaceful progress together,” he stated.
South Sudan exports all produced crude oil via pipeline from Hegleig and Paloch to Khartoum and then to Port Sudan for export. Sudan and South Sudan have worked together to bring supplies and workers across the border to rehabilitate South Sudanese oilfields since a landmark peace agreement in 2018. The fields, damaged during and after the conflict in 2013, are now resuming production.
The minister further added that the ongoing work on the oilfields Al-Nar, Al-Toor, Manga and Tharjiath should continue at the current speed to meet the 27 April deadline to pump first oil from rehabilitated wells.
Oil workers deployed for inspecting oil flow along the pipeline route will be protected along the length of the route, from oilfields to export terminal, and during transit, he concluded.
Blocks three and seven of South Sudan produce 134,000 bpd and Blocks one, two, and four produce 34,000 bpd of crude oil.
