Sudan denies existence of gas shortage

May 1, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s oil minister, Awad Ahmed Al-Jazz, denied that a gas shortage exists in the country saying that there sufficient levels available to meet internal demand.

The minister, who spoke at a press conference on the occasion of launching new gas tankers in Khartoum yesterday, said that determination of gas prices is the responsibility of the ministry of finance while oil ministry is responsible for the provision of oil and petroleum products.

Al-Jazz further stressed his ministry’s ability to produce gas inside all Sudanese territory but gave no figures on Sudan’s current production.

The Managing Director of PetroTrans Abd-alaziz Dafaa Alla, said that they have introduced 25 new trucks which would enable them to transport a 6,000 tons of gas monthly adding that this amount is sufficient to fill the gap for the time being.

The state’s minister at the oil ministry, Faisal Hamad, for his part, said that the gas transport project is part of their efforts to provide strategic goods.

In a related issue, the Sudanese oil minister announced that he commissioned people at his ministry to complete refineries’ maintenance including the Khartoum one ahead of the set deadline.

(ST)