Sudan resumes oil production from Heglig fields
May 2, 2012 (KHARTOUM)- Sudan announced Wednesday the resumption of the production of oil fields in Heglig which were stopped after its occupation by the South Sudanese army for ten days last April.
The resumption of oil production was announced in Khartoum by the Sudanese petroleum minister, Awad Ahmed al-Jaz, after his return from the oil fields; dressed in full military regalia and flanked by dozens of staff from his ministry.
“We have resumed oil pumping from Higleg oil fields, and I have opened the valves myself after we have completed all the work within one week,” al-Jaz told reporters proudly in Khartoum.
“Many have challenged us that at least it needs six months before production returns, but we worked 24 hours a day and we have succeeded in repairing the power stations, pipelines, and the central processing units,” he further said.
The minister said the oil fields started pumping oil at 10 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday.
Sudan and South Sudan have failed to reach an agreement over post-independence issues. Their dispute over oil transportation fees led the South to shut down its production after accusing Khartoum of stealing oil.
Sudan have since opened a tender for oil companies to start exploration in 6 new sites in Sudan. According to the minister over 70 international companies have expressed their desire to invest in Sudan.
Heglig’s oil is operated by a consortium of Chinese, Malaysia, Indian and Sudanese companies called Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Co (GNPOC). The Chinese operator applied for many of these new fields.
Heglig produces some 55.000 barrels per day, about the half of Sudan’s oil production since the independence of South Sudan in July 2011.
The minister said his country plans to augment output of Heglig’s oil but he did not disclose what the damaged oil installations are producing now.
Jaz said they have only managed to fix what was necessary to resume oil pumping. But experts say that Sudan at least needs four to six months before oil production returns to normal.
“We have fixed what was necessary for the resumption of oil production. But at the same time the work is still going on,” the minister said. Adding, “now if you ask the engineers here they will tell you that Higleg’s oil has reached Khartoum refinery,” he stressed.
Sudanese army last Saturday detained, a Briton, a Norwegian, South African and a South Sudanese in Higleg. All they are accused of helping South Sudan to destroy the oilfields during the ten days of occupation.
At his press conference today, al-Jaz stressed that the four men have admitted during the interrogation that they helped the SPLA to set a blaze on the oil fields.
Jaz accused also vowed to sue South Sudan for compensation, saying they are assessing the loses now.
He pledged to provide the details of the damages caused by the South Sudanese army to the international and regional institutions.
(ST)