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Sudan Tribune

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Sudan, S. Sudan oil corporations sign cooperation agreement

NILEPET's Managing Director, Chol Deng Abel (L) and the Director General of SUDAPET, Eng. Ahmed Alzieda sign the MoU in Juba, September 16, 2022 (NILEPET photo)

September 19, 2022 (JUBA) – Sudan and South Sudan’s state-owned oil corporations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in human resource development as well as promotion of personnel exchanges.

The agreement between the two neighbouring nations was signed on Friday last week.

A statement from South Sudan’s state-owned oil entity (NILEPET) said the MoU with Sudan’s national oil firm (SUDAPET) focused on various Petroleum business areas.

“The construction of [a] data processing center in Juba through a joint venture that will be governed according to the laws of the Republic of South Sudan,” it read in part.

Added the statement, “Training of geologists, geoscientists and technical staff as well as expertise of NILEPET using the facilities of SUDAPET in Khartoum in the meantime”.

The agreement, according to NILEPET, also focused on oil exploration and production.

NILEPET’s Managing Director, Chol Deng Abel described the agreement signed between the two state-owned oil corporations as “a great step forward”.

“I thank the tireless effort of my team, the Deputy Managing Director, DGs [Director Generals], Directors and the legal department for this achievement. The MoU strictly aims at training our young engineers in different fields of Oil and Gas operations and it will alleviate our capacity leading to the attainment of the Vision 2027,” he explained.

NILEPET was established before South Sudan’s independence in 2011 as part of the civil authority of the New Sudan in 2003 and later registered under the Companies Act, 2009, Petroleum Act, 2012 and NILEPET Act, 2019.

For is part, the Director General of SUDAPET, Eng. Ahmed Alzieda pledged commitment to the terms of the MoU signed between both state-owned corporations.

“We are more than ready to implement this agreement as soon as we reach Khartoum by the grace of God,” he stressed.

Since 2011, relations between Khartoum and Juba have been improving with officials from both nations exchanging visits, attending political, economic and security functions.

(ST)