Khartoum says oil flows from South Sudan’s Upper Nile state remain stable

January 7, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese oil Minister Makkawi Mohammed Awad affirmed that flow of crude from Adar Yeil’s oil field in Upper Nile state is normal despite the unrest engulfing South Sudan since last month.

Awad, who paid a visit to Juba on Monday, met with his South Sudanese counterpart Stephen Dhieu Dau, to discuss issues of mutual concern in the petroleum sector.

The two sides underscored the importance of maintaining oil flow from landlocked South Sudan through Sudan’s pipelines that extend to terminals in the coastal city of Port Sudan.

Sudan’s oil minister said that production in Adar Yeil’s oil field increased from 165,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 200,000.

Forces loyal to South Sudan former Vice President Riek Machar took control of the Unity state which contains part of the oil fields.

Oil companies in Unity state mainly from China and India evacuated their workers and made sure to shut down the oilfields there which are believed to have been producing around 45,000 bpd.

Sudan receives a fee from Juba on every barrel of oil exported through its pipelines which in 2014 is expected to bring billions of dollars into Khartoum’s coffers.

(ST)