Government secures oil resumption deal with Sudanese warring parties

By Andrea Arop Malek & Denis Ejulu

The transitional unity government has downplayed fears that the security of the oil pipeline to Port Sudan, could come under attack if it does not appease the two warring parties in Sudan.

Tut Gatluak Manime, Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs, said on Thursday that they have reached out to both the Sudan Sovereign Council led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his rival Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, alias Hemedti who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to ensure the security of the pipeline and oil workers as the government ramps up plans to resume oil production and shipping of crude through war-torn Sudan.

“We as the government of South Sudan took a big initiative; we went and met the Sudanese government in Port Sudan, a few months ago, and assured them officially, that this is a national resource that belongs to the people of South Sudan. And then we met the Rapid Support Force in Addis Ababa, and assured them the same message, that we are not part of this war between both of you,” said Gatluak in an exclusive interview with The Dawn in Juba.

Gatluak led a high-level delegation to Port Sudan last week consisting of the undersecretary in the ministry of petroleum, Chol Deng Thon Abel, and other senior officials to negotiate with the Sudan Sovereign Council on the possibility of immediately resuming oil production and shipment at Port Sudan.

The senior presidential advisor said that they agreed with all warring sides to meet their share of responsibility in ensuring safety and security of engineers at their respective areas of control.

This development comes amid wide spread reports, that the RSF, was putting pressure on the government to give it it’s share of the pipeline fee, which has been going to the Sudanese government following the agreement reached in 2012 between the two countries.

“There is nothing such as this (fee) is for RSF and this is for the government. The pipeline fee goes directly to the government of Sudan. This is a well-known agreement between the two countries with international witnesses. We expect this to be the responsibility of the Sudanese government,” said Gatluak.

He also added that they are not taking sides in the conflict, despite acknowledging that they recognize the internationally recognized government in Port Sudan.

“We want our oil production to continue functioning and every party (SAF and RSF) must be responsible in the areas under their control. That’s why we resumed the oil production. After visiting the production sites where there were damages, we did a review of all the sites starting all the way from South Sudan up to the Red Sea. We reviewed all the pipelines, some were frozen but were cleaned with hot water and some chemicals and now the pipelines are ready for full production of oil from South Sudan,” said Gatluak.

He disclosed that a team of engineers from Sudan is due in Juba on Saturday, adding that the Sudanese team will hold discussions with officials in the ministry of energy for two –to- three days, with the aim of speeding up resumption of oil production at the Palouch oil field in Upper Nile State.

“Immediately after, they will go with the Joint Operating Companies to Palouch oil field and start exporting oil through the Red Sea,” Gatluak disclosed.

In February, the Dar Petroleum Oil Company suspended loadings of the Dar Blend crude following a rupture on the export pipeline in neighboring Sudan, which has been mired in conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and the paramilitary RSF since April 15, 2023.

South Sudan’s economy is currently experiencing record-high inflation following the halting of oil shipments to the international markets.

Gatluak revealed that plans for oil resumption are not being hampered by disagreements over oil pipeline fees with any of the warring parties, adding that both parties support the resumption of oil production.

“We engaged both parties and where there is RSF; the government of South Sudan considers the responsibility and the safety of the engineers and people working in the oil field under them. We also agreed that where the Sudan Armed Force is, the responsibility and safety of the engineers and people working in the oil field is under them until when there is peace in Sudan then we will deal with one Sudanese government and army,” he disclosed.

Gatluak said that they have informed the rival Sudanese parties to allow vehicles and engineers to work in their respective areas of control.

South Sudan had been sending to Sudan around 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day for export.