Oil found in Sudan’s Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Apr 16, 2005 (UPI) — Sudan said Saturday initial oil drilling operations in the troubled Darfur region indicate there is abundant oil in the area.

Sudan Energy Minister Awad al-Jaz told reporters in Khartoum an oil field was found in southern Darfur and it is expected to produce 500,000 barrels of oil per day by August.

Most of the country’s oil production comes from oil fields in southern Sudan, where a peace treaty was recently signed between the government and rebels.

According to the accord, 50 percent of oil revenues from the south will go to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, while the other half to Khartoum.

The country started exporting oil in August 1999.