French Total prepares to resume oil activities in Sudan’s Jonglei
By Philip Thon Aleu
March 19, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) — One of the major oil exploration companies in Europe and the fourth best worldwide – TOTAL SA (TOT), has stated preparations to resume its activities in Jonglei state, after more two decades break.
The French oil firm set foot in Sudan in 1980 when it was awarded a permit to explore the vast Block Ba. Total shot 1,600 kilometers of seismic survey but had to leave the country in 1984 because civil war made operations impossible.
Total E&P Sudan Project Coordinator Coordinator, Olivier Michel, told Sudan Tribune that TOTALl has successfully returned. “We will be in Jonglei and the community has to know this.” He further affirmed that TOTAL is minding its business.
“We are ready to work here but remain a private company, and we would like the local community to be involved in sustainable development activities that we will promote,” he said.
The oil firm is expected to restart seismic and drilling work in south Sudan either late 2008 after the end of rainy season and the arrival of its equipments to the region.
Michel attributed delays to establish a base in Bor to the forth coming rainy season but “coming step-by-step.” TOTAL is due to work in block B, spanning more than 80 miles in radius.
TOTAL staff met twice with Jonglei governor, after successfully receiving ‘a-go-head message from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) particularly from the Sudan’s First Vice President who backs the firm.
Other Oil extracting companies, already in Jonglei, includes ASCOM Sudd Ltd, White Nile Co., and PETRONAS.
Jonglei Governor Kuol Manyang told a group of casual workers, last month at his party’s office (SPLM) in Bor that, “TOTAL company is coming back and would employ you.”
Asked whether TOTAL could show its abilities to work for the benefits of Sudanese now than later, Michel said they would encourage people to be self reliant.
“We want people to be active participants rather than passive in the community development projects we will support. We here to technically explore oil on an appropriate manner; the way the resources are used is up to the government,” Michel noticed.
Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, TOTAL activities were delayed during more than two years following a dispute over the rights on the block with a UK based small oil firm White Nile Ltd. (WNL.LN).
However, in May 2007, southern Sudan government President Salva Kiir Maydrit Salva Kiir ordered a freeze on oil exploration in Jonglei state, and formed a committee to investigate the controversial White Nile oil company, headed by ex-England cricketer Phil Edmonds.
Salva Kiir’s order was followed by a decision from the National Petroleum Commission issued on 17 June 2007 enabling TOTAL to resume oil operations in southern Sudan.
(ST)