Sudan denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
November 29, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Tuesday appeared to reverse a decision it announced yesterday by which oil exports from South Sudan passing through the north’s pipelines would come to a halt.
The foreign ministry spokesperson Al-Obaid Marawih told reporters in Khartoum that South Sudan’s will still be able to export its oil through its territories until both countries reach an agreement on fees that should be assessed for using the pipelines and refineries.
Marawih also denied any intention to block exports of oil from Sudan’s southern neighbor.
Yesterday the Sudanese state minister of petroleum Ali Ahmed Osman announced that Khartoum will no longer allow South Sudan to transfer its oil all the way to Port Sudan on the Red Sea until it clears its financial arrears.
Osman claimed that South Sudan owes $727 million on four shipments of oil released and transferred through the oil installations in the north.
The foreign ministry spokesperson today said that his country is determined to get a percentage of South Sudan’s oil exports even if no agreement has been reached on transit fees but without forcibly sealing off the pipelines.
“It is possible later to reach an account settlement regarding the dues and obligations [of each side],” he said.
Last July South Sudan became the world’s newest country after voting for independence in a January vote, taking with it three-quarters of the former united country’s roughly 500,000 barrels per day of oil production.
The two countries are negotiating the oil issue in Ethiopia.
According to the foreign ministry three options were tabled in Addis Ababa by the African Union mediation team led by former South African president Thabo Mbeki including that each side would assist the other economically.
Mbeki on his end suggested that a compromise by which Khartoum gets a percentage of annual oil exports that would include the transit fees to help Sudan overcome the current economic crisis. In return for that Sudan would facilitate border trade and open ports for the flow of goods to South Sudan.
Sudan proposed that the south pay $10.5 billion during the next five years but Mbeki’s team and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) put the figure at $7.4 billion. Neither of the numbers was agreed on.
According to Marawih, Sudan informed Mbeki that it cannot keep exporting south’s oil indefinitely without any financial return.
China made a rare intervention today on the new development with its ambassador in Khartoum slamming news of blocking South Sudan’s oil exports.
The Chinese ambassador in Sudan Luo Xiaoguang described Khartoum’s decision as “very serious and unjustified”.
Xiaoguang further told the pro-government al-Rayaam newspaper that there is no reason to stop the exporting of oil as long as there are negotiations now underway between the two countries in Addis Ababa.
He expressed hope that Sudan would reconsider its decision and called on the Government of Southern Sudan to engage in serious dialogue to reach agreement on outstanding issues particularly the oil dossier.
The Chinese foreign ministry echoed its envoy’s statements.
“Maintaining normal production of oil is important to both South Sudan and Sudan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
“We hope North and South Sudan can stay rational, show restraint, and resolve relevant problems through neighborly pragmatism and friendly talks” he added.
China depends for nearly five percent of its oil imports on South Sudan, a new country long suspicious of Beijing’s ties with Khartoum.
The state-run China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has pumped billions of dollars into developing oilfields in Sudan, 80 percent of which lie in the south.
A South Sudan oil official said yesterday that a 600,000 barrel oil shipment sold by South Sudan to China’s Unipec did not load as scheduled on Monday because of Sudan’s decision.
A 1 million barrel oil shipment sold to trading house Vitol is due to load on Tuesday but will not “unless there is a change of mind today,” Macar Aciek Ader, undersecretary at South Sudan’s ministry of petroleum and mining, told Reuters.
“We were supposed to load 600,000 barrels today, but it didn’t load,” he said by telephone, adding the buyer was Unipec, trading arm of China’s top refiner Sinopec Corp.
ALTERNATIVE PIPELINE
In Juba an official said that South Sudan will continue to look for alternative pipeline to export its oil.
“We do not see a future in the oil infrastructure of the north. Our oil must have access to international markets. We should not be punished because we decided to secede,” Stephen Dhieu Dau, the South Sudanese oil minister told Reuters by telephone from the Ethiopian capital.
Minister Dau reportedly added his country had offered Sudan a $5.4 billion transitional financial package for the next five years to help close a $7.8 billion fiscal deficit caused by the split of the country in July, in line with a figure he said was calculated by the IMF.
“We have offered to pay $2.6 billion over five years and forgiveness of arrears of $2.6 billion, for a deal in which we would not pay transit fees,” he said.
“This is the package of financial assistance we are offering to Khartoum, and while this is happening we were surprised by this unilateral decision [to halt shipments of oil]. This unilateral action taken by Khartoum will have negative impact on all of Sudan’s oil interests” Dau added.
He said the alternative would be to pay a transit fee which would not be more than $0.75 per barrel.
Reacting to the statement by the Sudanese government, Sudan Tribune reached out to voices from members of the public in South Sudan capital Juba on Tuesday and caught up with both ordinary and public figures.
“We are not surprised. This is indeed a known behavior of the Khartoum. It is a political decision which our government and people should take seriously. It is a not a one man’s decision. It is a decision taken by the whole government of the National Congress Party”, Garang Mawien Dut, a member of the South Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday at South Sudan Hotel.
Dut claimed the decision to stop oil shipments was tactically done by the Sudanese government to put on South Sudanese government to concede in the ongoing discussions which resumed last week in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on post independence issues.
The official added the decision taken by Khartoum was only affecting bilateral ties but also the lives of the ordinary people because want to unite the south with North by all means because it has of oil wells.
“Building a new pipeline is contingent upon the following conditions or factors: 1) The quantity and quality of the old and new oil deposits on the ground in South Sudan 2) Estimated cost for remaining oil deposits 3) Environmental suitability and feasibility of building pipelines from Unity State and Upper Nile to Kenya 4) Availability of skilled workers”.
“These factors, he said, have to be closely examined to determine whether South Sudan is better off building new pipelines or paying plausible transit fees to the Sudan because Building new pipelines is not economically feasible at this time given that we do not have abundant reserves and our crude oil is not of high quality”.
Ater K. Thiep, a member of Warrap State Legislative Assembly in a separate interview added that another factor which may make a potential engineering firm hesitant about taking any risk undertaking such expensive project would a political understanding between the companies and the government of south Sudan.
“We have a lot of competing priorities now for our government which requires capital. This is why Khartoum is stuck on the demand to share the oil with us because they know our alternative pipeline would be costly, he adds.
The legislator said there are available three options 1) Pay Khartoum the transit fees it is demanding; 2) Sell our oil to the Chinese firm at lower price and ask them to ship it as theirs; 3) Refuse to do any of the above and borrow huge money from the international monetary institutions in return of paying high interests as South Sudan continues explore the feasibility of building pipelines or railways.
(ST)
Bush
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Idiot NCP!, why don’t you stand firm by words so that you can see what China will do to you like Kenya did you.You idiot Arabs of Africa.I wish all EAC should follow what Kenya did.
Nuerone Mafitabu
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
BIG LIES,BASHIR.WE KNOW YOU VERY WELL.
Xeno
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Hello
Mohammmmad Ali
Master
Jalabi,
Breaking news!!!!!! hahahahahahahaha…, it was true el beshier was determined to shut or stop South sudan oil flow thru north pipeline, BUT KNOW WHAT?…..somebody in the post said A PHONE CALL FROM CHINA WILL MAKE AL BESHIER DROP HIS A$$$$ HARD!…..hahahahahah you see! They shamefully denying it that they didn’t intend to do so….Pathetic fake arabs!
Daniel Buolmawei
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
They say they are Allah’s advocates while you see and hear nothing but lies and contradictions every day. I want to take time off to study God thugs like Bashir advocate to the world. Where are Master and Jalaby who asserted only Kenyan Africans have master (The West)? Is China now not a Master when you retract your position in a matter of a day? We all know China and Iran are your Masters.
Chier Akueny
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Thugs in Khartoum must put in their minds that we have solution to those unfavourable obligations enforced by Khartoum and so, since South Sudan has high wanted resource, however we have to find a possible solution as quick as possible. South Sudan should get serious and find a possible way of transporting our oil. Look! We have to discovered more oilfields in Lake, Warrap, Aweil and Jonglei state
Daniel Buolmawei
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
If I am the current President of this newly established country of the Republic of South Sudan, I would stop using this pipeline period. My plan would be to shut it down or stop using it for three years and work hard on the pipeline to Mabassa, Kenya or Lamu Port. Three years are piece of cake for Southerners who survived many years of struggle without anything but our strong hearts and hopes.
Chier Akueny
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
My friends Mohammed Ali, Jallabi and Master including Samuel Eto’o will get shame now because their government is totally confused and so, the tend to support stupid ideas from confused and crook leader of their, Mr. Bashir. Just wait, you are going to see him in Netherland, in Hague arguing with International Criminal Investigators and they will hang him like Saddam Husein. Shame on you!
pabaak
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
They say oil is the lifeblood of South Sudan but they forget also its the lifeblood of other oil- hungry nations such China, and biggest of all it is a international commodity,any interruption by any nation will bring them down, so if Khartoum try to use its anger toward South Sudan by shutting off pipeline its them who will suffered the most and definitely will bring down regime.
Bush
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
@Chier Akueny
Those of Mohammed Ali, Jallabi, Master and Samuel Eto’o (AKA Sam Dog) are all liars and they live on lies to gain support and sympathy. Their mothers were once raped by Sheiks, yesterday I read a lot of insults from Dog master and I was too busy to reply, I want to see him here now.
Peter Marko
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
We all know that Al-Bashier is not in the position to shut off the oil pipeline because China is the consumer of our oil.Not only that, Al-Bashier borrowed billions of dollars from China in 1990s in order to extract the oil, and construct the pipelines. Now oil is gone, he could not afford to pay back the loan to Chinese. So, the idiot has no choice other the complying with the Chinese orders…
Peter Marko
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
…that why I said yesterday that a phone call from China will make al-bashier’s a** droplets.It will not be even a day before we hear that they open it up again.
Logic
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
I told you guys yesterday, the NCP CANNOT stop the oil flow! We know how the game goes, let these mad dogs bark as much as they like, at the end its all about influence and interest.
NCP is a joke…
Kodi
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
I strongly agree with Daniel, Shameless president Bashir is just uttering threatening words which will never help any more, if its me as the president of the vegine republice of south I would simply shut off the piplnies and see other alternative which will do no any harm to southerners, always empty vessel makes alot of noice, let him bark and threaten the situation, jourany is continuing.
Wetdut
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Yeah, it is good to change up your mind NCPs since the North largerly rely on South Sudan oil. you have seen that the economy is badly alarming according to IMF report.
mohammed ali
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Xeno, am here , as I said yesterday I was not happy for shuttinhg the pipeline.Simply because I donnot take as a victory, because Sudan will get its dues at the right time, it will never be free. The poor people only will suffer from shutting it and any tension will reflect on them.Fat cats of the SPLA will not be affected.I hope things will be resolved through negotiation!
mohammed ali
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Simply as a last resoult Sudan can take it’s dues when the oil reaches Portsudan, something which you cannot do anything about it! Therfore negotiation in good faith is the best option.But sooner or later SS should understand that we will need this pipeline!
Force 1
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
There you have it now, where is Mohammad Ali? We all keep saying “take it or leave it” who is now taking it? Who is now desperate for cash? The South is not desperate for cash; we have the second route to the Kenyan port, take $ 0.25 per barrel or leave it? You see, empty rhetoric is one thing authenticity is another?
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
That is how politic works! NCP is playing China intelligently just like the way China is being used by the Western world to bailout their collapsing economies! In real world of politics, people always mind their immediate and long term interests, unlike what we have in RoSS where those SPLM amateur bush politicians come out on that ridicules SSTV and start to directly curse their opponents!
mohammed ali
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Sudan had accepted all the offers offered by the international mediators including the IMF experts and I donnot see that if the ongoing negotiation failed things will go as it is, just be patient and let them reach an amicable solution!
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
The Republic of Sudan isn’t going to stop the oil flow through port Sudan simply for humanitarian reasons but this threat will serve as a wakeup call for those reckless SPLM amateur politicians to stop chatting nonsenses when their options are limited! Regime change in RoSS will done in different means! SPLA/M regime days in RoSS is numbered!
Force 1
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Mohammad Ali, before you deny anything, go back to your last post yesterday when tell South Sudan to either “take it or leave it” because that will make you look reasonable. Here is a lesson for you, when you tell someone to either it or leave it, it means you truly own that good or services. You don’t tell someone who own his property to either it or leave it; I hope you learnt something today.
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
I meant to say: the regime change in RoSS will be done in different ways!
Sam.Eto
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Just to prove Sudan Tribunes prejudice and bad journalism – They intentionally misquoted and edited the information. The source is Sabir Mohamed Hassan, Sudan’s co-chair of negotiations on economic issues. But he said “Most probably that amount is the amount we took in lieu of charges accumulated against the government of Sudan.” In reference to the 1.6 M barrel shipment held.
Sam.Eto
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5E7MU2FH20111130
Sam.Eto
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Xeno
Sudan took its share they wanted the $769 Million owed to it by South Sudan. So now the oil can go and will see what happens.
http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5E7MU2FH20111130
Asked whether those shipments had loaded, Hassan said: “Most probably that amount is the amount we took in lieu of charges accumulated”
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Force1
South Sudan is supposed to need cash more than Sudan simply because she has no incomes others than that of oil revenues! The reason why it seems as if we don’t need cash is because those SPLA/M amateur bush politicians don’t value the lives of Southern Sudanese! That is why they don’t care to provide them with: food, drinkable water, decent housing, electricity, hospitals, schools, roads..
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
to mention only few from the long list of basic services that the SPLA/M thugs failed and is failing to provide. Now, do you have the same situation in Sudan? Your economic 99% depends on oil, logically if the oil flow via Port Sudan is halted because of the non-payments by those alcoholic SPLA/M Generals called leaders in Juba, it is obvious that your corrupt regime won’t last for a single day!
Dinka Dominated SPLA/M
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
let them shut it down because who will got affected by that are food lover who used to run to khartoum during the war.
death to nyagateen either die by hunger abd gun fire and any disease let them die thgey are our enamies. you should know who i am talking about dudde.
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Kenyan option isn’t feasible because its too expensive to maintain plus how long it will take you to build a pipline and for how much money? plus will it be secured enough? as it can be easily looted by hungry and poor Kenyans including their corrupt police and army! just like what you might have seen in Nigeria! Be diplomatic to Sudan if you want to survive and thrive otherwise forget it.
hard liner
Sudan denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
NCP political Dogs, when will you stop barking with your tails in between your legs knowing you can not win? please am advising you to just shut the hell up China does not want any body to get on it was when it comes to business. sooner or later we RoSS will build our own pipeline through mombasa and its gonna be hell on you with your already dying economy making you to claim billions as transfer.
Logic
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
SSLA/M Supporter is an NISS agent, don’t pay him too much attention.
Konan
Sudan denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Hi Southerners,
If I were u I would have take Al-Bashir as (God) and worship him day and night. He is the true founder of the RoSS not your fake dead leader. Regarding oil better you establish your own, cuz Al-Bashier is last pro-southern president. Remember my words the days of your state founder (i.e. Al-Bashir) are numbered.
mohammed ali
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Force,(( we have the right to set up our price,then you can negotiate otherwise take it or leave it) this what I wrote yesterday, and I repeat it!I donnot think you own the pipeline, the storage facilities, the processing unit or the port. These belong to us , you have either to negotiate in good face or either take them or leave it because we own them.You are right you donnot tell someone who ..c
pabaak
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Chier, is true though the decision of closed down of pipeline has a consequences to both North and China, however I’m against of doing nothing until now, we have many ways we can maximize our economy without oil, such as doing minerals explorations in Western and Eastern Equatoria, Western Bahr Algazal, plus the massive road construction to connect all states with our neighbors to increase revenue
mohammed ali
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
..own something to take or leave! We own the port , so take or leave it; own the pipeline so take it or leave, we own the storage, processing facilities ..etc so take or leave it!Is this the lesson you want to learn?!Afterall, oil is passing through our land, it is obvious that we will take our dues in the right time!
pabaak
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
if these projects implemented, they will generate a lot more revenues than oil, doing these project in short period of time will take off pressures from our economy being dictated by external factors, our government need to wake up from sleeping, led them put long term plan instead always in media that we are “thinking of constructing pipeline without any actions since 2005.
mohammed ali
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Force, why wasting your time go to Kenya now, let them give it for free for you we will be more happy!This is the empty rehtoric!You haven’t taken anything and you will pay what we agree upon, otherwise we will confiscate our dues.You are very desparate for cash and people there are dying of hunger!LOOOTERS are not!http://southsudannation.com/gettingtoughon%20joanadams78.htm;see whois desparate fo
Sundayw
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
mohammed ali,
Sudanese government has not mechanisms to shut down oil flow through facilities that were built and operated by Chinese oil consortium. Doing so would cost NCP regime big in the international arena. Not even Russia would come to Sudan’s aid. And China would pay the bill to build a new pipeline linking Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan leaving Khartoum naked in the cold. I told you so.
Child Soldier
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Son of bitch so-called SSLA Supporter.
I know your real name man,don’t disguise yourelf, You are David de Chan, now you have had been supporting those FUCKERS
Child Soldier
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
SSLA Supporter FUCKERS, why are you crying son of dog and child of whore, did your FUCKERS Jalaba sign with you sexual contract because you’re gay, that is way you castigate your fellow citizens of the RoSS, son of devile your days are numbers, what fucking regime change are you talking about, not way you did rebel for your personal issues but achieve nothing. Son of bitch you will remain as loser
maryo
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
I like this thought,lets explore other means of exporting our oil e.g flying barrels on our national carrier, which will not do human business but only fly oil for export
Ahmed Chol
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
What will we do if we run out of oil under ground? Goverment of S. Sudan should learn to save some money so that the government can continue to operate in any eventualities in the oil industry.
Ahmed Chol, whatever begins in anger ends in shame
jubaone
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Such haphazard and unpredictable NCP politics should be a warning that the SPLM led govt. should put up alternative route for its oil exports. But the GoSS is without clearly defined national and strategic interests. One is not surprised by the semi-literate bunch of presidential advisors, ill-educated, rapacious and unable to think beyond their stomachs. The GoSS needs thinkers, not drinkers.
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Child soldier!
Motherfucker Child soldier, the bastard! I know who you are too motherfucker, you must be that motherfucker mule called Salva Kiir or that son of prostitute called Salva Mathok or Bol Makueng, anyway you are all donkeys and Mules if you are lucky not to be Monkey! Son of fucken prostitute, that is looting our oil monies! Motherfucker Child soldier..
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Motherfucker Child soldier of Fucken SPLA/M that is being fucken by SSLA/M and Sudan Armed forces combined, now I kindly asked you to come to Khartoum and suck and lick my dick and those of my Sudanese friends, bring Deng Alore with for an ass fuck and you will both drink our cums before we pump or dick your anuses or assholes and that of Kiir and those fucker SPLA/M illiterate bush politicians!
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
Motherfucker Child Soldier!
I can’t let myself being abused by a mule or a monkey like you motherfucker idiot get it right next time when you see me on this website, because I am not Reik Machar that you are abusing day and night without reaction! let this one get through your anus next time Mr Fucken Kiir! plus I amn not Professor David De Chang, let it get through your asshole Mule!
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
logic
I am not and will never be any agent of no one but will remain as a true liberator and educator of vast majority of our Southern Sudanese who don’t know their rights that are being abused by SPLA/M thugs right now! I won’t rest until southern Sudan is fully liberated and sterilized from SPLA/M contamination! You know that I am right!
SSLA/M Supporter
Sudan’s denies halting South Sudan oil exports as China condemns move
As they say in Arabic language “the ignorant is an enemy of him/herself” those SPLA/M corrupt and illiterate bush politicians including their illiterate cowboy Kiir Mayardit, are indeed ignorants who are enimies of themselves given to their hostility towards the hands that feed them, a testimony how blind are those little mind politicians! be diplomatic to Sudan for your survival, otherwise!