From Adia Jildo, in Juba South Sudan
South Sudan government is billed to resume oil flow after Sudan government said it has lifted a force majeure that has been preventing South Sudan’s crude oil from passing through Port Sudan.
Sudan’s government had declared a forced majeure on South Sudan crude oil exports due to a rupture in the country’s export pipeline during the war in Sudan in March 2024.
The country recorded a significant decrease in flow at Pump Station 5 in February 2024, hence affecting the country’s economy which depends heavily on oil revenue.
A letter to oil stakeholders from the South Sudan Minister of Petroluem, Pout Kang Chol, gave reasons for the resumption.
“We are pleased to inform you that we are hereby lifting the Force Majeure based on the security arrangements made by the Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan and the measures taken by the Barsher Pipeline Company, BAPCO, to ensure the flow of materials and equipment to all facilities along the route of the BAPCO transportation system,” the statement said in part.
The Government of Sudan had said on March 2024, that it was unable to facilitate the transportation of South Sudan crude oil through the Jabalayn-Port Sudan Pipeline, citing interruptions from the ongoing conflict.
The war in Sudan between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, disrupted the flow of South Sudan’s crude oil through Port Sudan after a major pipeline was ruptured in a war zone in February.
“The Ministry of Petroleum is hereby declaring the 30th December 2024 as the official kick-off date for the resumption of production operations in block three and seven,” the director general for Petroleum Authority, Kon John Akot said in a letter dated December 19 as reported by AFP.
The South Sudan government is expected to give a statement in relations to the lifting of the forced Majeure and oil resumption and exports on Tuesday.
