Sudanese army denies rebel attack oil field
December 11, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese army today denied statement by a Darfur rebel group that they had seized control of a Chinese-run oil-field in Kordufan region for the second time.
The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said Tuesday attacked the oilfield of al-Rahaw and took control of the facility” in the south Kordufan region.
In a statement to SUNA, the spokesman of the Sudan Armed Forces denied that any oil well was seized. He further said that the security was stable in the oil region and the report was false and far from truth.
He said a group of 20 persons tried to attack al-Rahaw camp out side Dakhirah well in South Kordufan State. He added that the assailants jacked a vehicle belonging to a Chinese company after forcing the driver to hand it over to them.
The vehicle rolled over at the gate of the camp and the rebels escaped using another car they were driving, the military statement said.
The Rahaw facility run by China’s Great Wall Company produces 35,000 barrels a day and is located northwest of the Hajlil field
Last October JEM rebels seized five hostages when they attacked Kordofan’s Defra oil field in an assault they said was meant to send China a message to stop supporting the Sudanese government through oil revenues.
Beijing’s ambassador to Khartoum last month voiced deep concern at Darfur rebel threats to target Chinese peacekeepers being deployed as part of a bolstered African Union-United Nations force in Darfur.
(ST)