South Sudan seeks Ethiopia premier’s help over oil row
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
January 19, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan has asked the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) chairman, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, to play a role in resolving its oil pipeline dispute with Khartoum.
Lawilla said Ethiopia should contribute to the resolution of the long-running oil fee dispute between Juba and Khartoum and called on Zenawi to play a leading role on the issue as current chairperson of IGAD.
Zenawi affirmed his commitment to settling the issue in collaboration with IGAD member states and African leaders during the African Union (AU) summit due to take place during 23-30 January in Addis Ababa.
After decades of civil war, South Sudan officially gained independence from Sudan in July 2011 under a 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which saw it taking over 75 percent of the total oil production, estimated to be 500,000 barrels per day.
The two countries have not yet reached agreement on how what transit fee South Sudan should pay for use of the pipeline which takes the oil to the coast. Khartoum is asking the newest nation pays $36 per barrel in transit fees, a charge South Sudan has described as “daylight robbery”.
On 15 January Sudan refuted claims that the row would lead to the closure of the pipeline. South Sudan also accuses Sudan of “stealing” as much as 650,000 barrels of oil.
In response, Sudanese officials say that Juba is declining to pay the necessary transit fees.
(ST)