South Sudan prepares to resume oil production
August 5, 2012 (JUBA) — South Sudan oil minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said that his ministry would call companies to fix dates on which they would resume work oil production.
Dau was speaking to Sudan Tribune after an understanding on oil transportation fees reached on Friday by the negotiating delegations of the two countries. The mediation said the parties have to finalise the other unresolved issue before the end of September.
Sudan also said the resumption of oil production can not be allowed before to fix the issue of security arrangements as Khartoum wants Juba to stop its support to the Sudanese rebel groups, a matter that the latter kept denying.
“We have started receiving calls and communication with oil companies. We have fixed dates on which they will start resumption of production and export, the minister said on Saturday.
“Our oil expertise staff members and employees have been informed to report to the ministry for update and briefing”, Dau told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
“We will tell companies of the remaining steps to prepare for the resumption of production and export,” he said, adding that South Sudanese negotiating team has kept pledges to resolve remaining differences.
He called on the international community to ensure that Sudanese government respects the reached agreement in order not to substantiate mistrust and fears of not implementing deals it signs with partners.
“We closed oil production because Sudanese government was confiscating it. With this agreement we now need the international community to ensure that Sudan will not confiscate our oil which passes through it territory”, he said.
(ST)