By Bonifacio Taban Kuich October 18, 2012…
By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
October 18, 2012 (BENTIU) –
Oil production was on halt since January after South Sudanese government accused neighboring Sudan to have confiscating crudes of oil in the South. Disputes on oil agreement between the two countries were difficult on reaching deal.
However the recent talks with international pressure have forced the two nations on inking for temporary deal for oil transit and security.
The former rebel Sudan People Liberation Army or SPLM, who fought a decade of years, signed a peace protocol in 2005 with Sudanese government that granted South Sudan independent in July 2011. During the struggle the citizens in Unity State accused some oil companies of collaborating with Sudanese Army Forces of mass killing of thousands civilians within the state.
Among those companies were the “Lundin” a Swedish oil company that constructed a Lundin road from Bentiu passing down to Tharjath and TALISMAN Company were alleged to have hands in helping Sudanese Army Forces for lifting with Helicopters near the areas of oil productions.
But the Unity State speaker who the former rebel fighter was saying the “Lundin Company” was not involved among companies went through assisting Sudanese Army Forces to terrorizing civil population in the late 1997 construction of pipelines in Unity State.
The speaker claims “Talisman” was the company fought to assist Sudan Army Forces in term of logistical support such oil company helicopter to be used as the transportation mean for patrolling during the war.
He added that the Lundin Company is our friend and we are willing to welcome operation in South Sudan, but he warns the returning of Talisman to South Sudan.
Lack of transparencies among government officials and oil companies has been a practice since oil production in both countries. Up to now there is no clear reality about oil production barrels per day to the general public.
Many people in South Sudan accused the Chinese oil companies of no transparency to continue working in the South. But still China interest in both Sudan is very deep in term of economic relationship.
However the Unity State speaker made it clear the present of Chinese companies is welcome but saying that the recent cooperative agreement is well-known agreement, which involved the international community.
Gai saying that the issue of lack of transparency would no longer occur in the next oil production resume.