Juba denies damaging Heglig oil infrastructure

April 26, 2012 (JUBA) – Juba described Khartoum’s claim that it damaged oil installations in the contested Heglig as a “joke” on Thursday.

South Sudan’s deputy defence minister, Majak D’Agoot, claimed the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) were responsible for aerial bombardments which targeted “oil installations in Heglig and all other infrastructure including civilian settlements in Unity State.”

Khartoum has accused South Sudan’s army of committing large-scale damage of oil infrastructure in Heglig during its occupation of the region.

It is estimated that Sudan lost some 700 million USD, about 20 percent of its revenues- after the attack on Heglig which produces the half of Sudan oil production.

D’Agoot told Radio Bakhita that Juba was demanding “reparation” for all damages including the “financial burdens” inflicted by Khartoum’s “antagonism”.

He also acknowledged increasing public concern regarding the delay in South Sudan’s acquisition of the requisite military hardware to defend its interests from aerial attacks, saying that it “requires resources”.

According to D’Agoot, before they are capable of operating the necessary air defence systems, a solider with a secondary school education requires five years training and a university graduate two.

Although he acknowledged inadequacies in South Sudan military, he asserted that its forces “are capable of fencing off any aggression into our oil industry. They have been deployed in strategic places where we have wells and they are ready to defend.”

(ST)