South Sudan To Export First Oil Cargo

AFRICAN MAIL – South Sudan’s first oil cargo is set to reach a Sudan export handling facility this coming week, according to Reuters. Landlocked South Sudan closed its all-inclusive production of 350,000 barrels a day in January last year. This was after the newly-found country’s talks with neighbour Sudan over oil fees were botched, hurling both states into chaos. According to Reuters, South Sudan has to export its oil through Sudan. Reports abound that that following months of talks, the neighbouring countries decided last month to start cross-border oil exports. The first cargo from the Thar Jath oilfield in South Sudan’s Unity state will reach the Sudanese processing facility in Heglig next week, Reuters reported, citing Sudan’s Oil Minister Awad al-Jaz. “The oil facilities are ready and intact for oil transit flows,” Reuters quoted Jaz as saying. He said oil operator China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), which runs Heglig, had been informed about the planned first cargo from South Sudan. Apparently he did not give any production details. South Sudan wants an initial oil output of between 150, 000 and 200,000 barrels per day (bpd). Sudan and South Sudan, which nearly returned to war about 12 months ago, rely heavily on crude exports for state revenues and use the foreign currency to import food and fuel.