Jarch says South Sudan Vice-President will support its oil rights
May 5, 2008 (LONDON) — A US private investment company claiming rights over oil concessions in southern Sudan today said that the Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) will endorse an agreement it had signed in 2004.
“Riek has informed General Paulino that these agreements, as did President Salva Kiir, are obligations of GOSS now.” Both Riek and Paulino are in Bentiu together with other senior GOSS officials.
General Paulino Matip Nhial, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA joined the advisory board of Jarch. as its vice-chairman since November 15, 2007.
The firm said expecting that all oil agreements signed by the national unity government will become moot after the southern Sudan independence and become Jarch concessions.
“The total concession area will be approximately 600,000 square kilometers.” The group said.
Further the group, which said confident of its plans, announced it will begin to build local presence in southern Sudan.
In the past, Phil Heilberg, the chairman of Jarch group, which is registered in the Virgin Islands, claimed he had signed on February 12, 2003 with the SPLM leadership at that time contracts to explore and exploit oil in Block B in southern Sudan.
(ST)