South Sudan Resumes Oil Shipments after a Year

By Jenifer James

South Sudan’s crude oil has finally arrived at Port Sudan’s marine terminals, marking a significant milestone in the resumption of oil exports after a halt due to the war in Sudan.

The Ministry of Petroleum confirmed on Tuesday that crude oil from Upper Nile State had successfully reached the marine terminal and is now ready for international shipment. This development follows months of extensive repairs to a major pipeline that was ruptured during the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.

“This is good news because we in South Sudan have faced difficulties since last year due to the loss of crude oil,” said Mohamed Lino, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Petroleum, while speaking on state broadcaster SSBC from Port Sudan. “As you all know, this represents the major share of crude oil production in South Sudan, which was halted for an entire year.”

The pipeline, responsible for transporting 60 percent of South Sudan’s oil output, was declared out of service after Khartoum invoked force majeure in March 2024, halting exports and plunging South Sudan into economic turmoil. Production at oil Blocks 3 and 7 resumed on January 8, 2025, after the pipeline was restored with support from China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC), and South Sudan’s Tri-Ocean (SSTO).

“I take this opportunity to congratulate BARSOO for the significant achievement we have all followed in recent days — having South Sudan’s crude oil reach the marine terminal safely and being ready for export,” Lino added.

He credited the success to the dedication of the oil sector partners and expressed hope for continued improvements in the industry. “With your efforts and dedication, we are able to bring this back now. Thank you so much, and we hope that all our discussions today will contribute to the betterment and improvement of the industry and our performance,” he said.

The restoration of exports offers a crucial boost to South Sudan’s economy, which relies heavily on oil revenue to fund public services and salaries.