South Sudan to kick start oil production, export on Wednesday
January 07, 2025 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol has announced that oil production in Blocks 3 and 7 and export will resume this Wednesday, January 8.
“I am pleased to announce the resumption of Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC) operations in Blocks 3 and 7, effective 8 January,” he told reporters in the capital, Juba, on Tuesday.
This comes days after the Sudanese government lifted the Force Majeure declared early last year.
“Following the resolution of pipeline and security concerns and the lifting of force majeure, we are restarting operations with the full support of our international partners, CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation), Sinopec, and (Egypt’s) SSTO,” said Chol.
He said this production restart will have a significant positive impact on South Sudan’s economy.
“DPOC and Bapco have been instructed to commence operations immediately,” stressed Chol.
On Monday, South Sudan’s Petroleum ministry announced that Block 3 and 7, which host the Paloch, Meetta, Adar, Gassab and Gumry oilfields, would begin oil production on January 8.
“Reference is made to the above mentioned-subject and to the letter from the Minister of Energy and Petroleum (MEP) of the Republic of Sudan dated 4 January 2025 and the letter from Basher Pipeline Company (BAPCO) pertaining to the official lifting of the Force Majeure by the Government of Sudan that was declared on 15 February 2024 and the indemnity letter issued by MoP and Coordination task force formed by the parties,” reads the ministry’s January 6 letter.
It adds, “The Ministry of Petroleum and Partners are pleased to bring to your kind attention the official lifting of the force majeure by the Sudanese Government and Basher Pipeline Company (BAPCO), which is an essential milestone towards the resumption of the crude oil operation and export of Block 3 and 7.
South Sudan was sending about 150,000 barrels per day of oil north to Port Sudan for export before the Sudanese government declared force majeure due to pipeline damage caused by the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Revenues from oil account for more than 90 per cent of South Sudan’s annual budget.
(ST)