S. Sudan reaps over $800m from oil, as UNSC urges against pipeline shutdown

August 23, 2013 (JUBA/WASHINGTON) – South Sudan has received over $800 million from oil sales since the resumption of oil exportation last June through Port Sudan on the Red Sea, however the UN Security Council appealed on Khartoum to not shut down the pipeline next month as announced.

“So far we have sold 700 million barrels and we have got $630 million minus $170 million paid to Sudan as transit fees and other fees as per the cooperation agreement”, said Dhieu in statements to the media on Thursday.

Dhieu said South Sudan will stick to the 6 September and will halt oil flows unless the country receives notification of an extension from Sudan.

The minister was speaking to the press following a closed door meeting on oil with Ian Hughes, the UK’s ambassador to South Sudan.

Hughes said his country is working towards building good relations between the two Sudans and that oil remains important for the economies of both countries.

“We are looking forward to when the government of Khartoum will extend a hand of friendship to extend the [oil flow] deadline”, he said.

Sudan notified South Sudan in June of its intention to halt oil flows through its territory, accusing the South of supporting rebels hostile to Khartoum. Juba has repeatedly denied the allegations and has in turn accused Sudan of supporting rebels led by David Yau Yau currently is fighting the Juba government in Jonglei state.

UN SECURITY COUNCIL

The Security Council on Friday issued a presidential statement appealing Sudan to not stop the flow of South Sudanese crude through its pipeline to the international market and urged the two countries to stop supporting and harbouring rebel groups.

“The Security Council urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to maintain dialogue to ensure continued transportation of oil from South Sudan, and the Government of Sudan to suspend any actions to halt the transportation of oil from South Sudan to allow these mechanisms to complete their work,” said a presidential statement on Sudan and South Sudan released on Friday.

The statement further called on the two countries to expedite the implementation of the nine cooperation agreements, to activate all the relevant mechanisms, to cooperate with the African mediation and to “refrain from pursuing any actions that run counter to these objectives”

The members of the joint security committee from both sides met this week in Khartoum where they reiterated their will to stop support to rebel groups and to cooperate in this regard with the needed transparency and seriousness.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir is expected to visit Khartoum to discuss security issues, border disputed areas and Abyei referendum .

(ST)