Senior officials from South Sudan and Sudan met in Sudan on Wednesday to discuss the anticipated resumption of oil exports from South Sudan. This follows months of halted crude flows due to a ruptured pipeline in Sudan, which is currently affected by ongoing military conflict.
In March, Sudan declared force majeure on oil exports from South Sudan after a significant pipeline rupture. This pipeline, which transports crude oil from South Sudan to a port in Sudan, is located in a region experiencing active military engagements.
The latest conflict in Sudan began in April of last year when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, clashed with the Sudanese army in the capital, Khartoum. As a result of the fighting, many oilfields in South Sudan have been unable to send their oil north through the Sudanese pipeline, leading to a steep decline in revenues for South Sudan.
Since the beginning of the year, South Sudan’s oil exports have significantly decreased. The country relies on oil for 90% of its state revenues, and the disruption has left it struggling to meet its budget needs.
Currently, a South Sudanese delegation is visiting Port Sudan to discuss the steps needed to resume oil exports. Sudan’s Minister of Energy and Oil, Mohieddin Naeem, confirmed that the talks focused on preparations to restart the flow of South Sudan’s crude oil, according to Sudanese media.
Naeem stated that both countries have agreed on the technical requirements for the pipeline. A joint workshop involving experts from South Sudan and Sudan will be established to ensure a smooth resumption of operations.
Last month, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir met with Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council. They discussed the resumption of oil exports through Sudan after extensive work on repairing the damaged oil infrastructure.
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