Sudan Awards Additional Oil Concession, Dam Project To M’sia
By Mikhail Raj Abdullah
EZULWINI, Swaziland, Aug 15 (Bernama) — Economic linkages between Sudan and Malaysia are poised to be more significant and substantial in the future as the African country has awarded Petronas with an additional oil concession at Block 8 at the Blue Nile area.
The concession area is in the southern part of Sudan.
In announcing this here Thursday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the central-eastern African republic had also awarded a multi-billion contract to a consortium participated by Malaysian interests to develop the Merowe Dam, some 400 km north of Khartoum.
Dr Mahathir told this to reporters after a bilateral meeting with Sudanese President Lt Gen Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir on the sidelines of the ongoing Global 2003 Smart Partnership International Dialogue.
However, no further details are available on both the projects.
According to a website on Sudan’s oil industry, the Sudanese government had said that the awarding of the new concessions is part of a move to raise additional reserves which could then be used to meet the country’s infrastructure needs.
On the other hand, the dam project will enhance its power needs.
Dr Mahathir said both leaders also discussed the upcoming Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Putrajaya in October.
He said both of of them also agreed on the importance for OIC members to enhance co-operation among themselves.