Sudan authorities thwart attack on main oil pipeline: report

KHARTOUM, Oct 10 (AFP) — The governor of Sudan’s Red Sea state said a sabotage attempt on the country’s main oil pipeline was thwarted recently near Port Sudan, the Al-Sahafa daily reported Sunday.

Hatim al-Wasilah al-Sammani told the newspaper that security forces had seized bags of explosives after six suspected attackers brought them on camelback and placed them by the pipeline near the country’s main port, Port Sudan.

The explosives failed to go off and the saboteurs managed to flee, he said, adding that security had been beefed up along the crucial export pipeline and that a man-hunt was underway to catch the suspects.

Sudan produces around 350,000 barrels of oil a day and, despite ongoing violence in some regions, is hoping to boost its output to 500,000 barrels within a year, thanks to heavy investment in the sector by Asian companies.

Sudan’s reserves are estimated at two billion barrels, 700 million of which are proven.