Chinese Firm to Rehabilitate Oil Fields in South Sudan

By Awan Achiek

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has agreed to rehabilitate oil fields in South Sudan, an official announced on Saturday.

This decision follows a meeting held in Beijing between representatives of the South Sudan Ministry of Petroleum and CNPC.

The high-level roundtable discussion also focused on strategies to increase crude oil production.

Deng Lual Wol, undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, said that CNPC has expressed its readiness to undertake the rehabilitation of the oil fields.

“Special attention was given to field rehabilitation, capacity building for our national workforce, and the adoption of environmentally responsible practices,” Wol told SSBC on Saturday.

Wol stated that the meeting also focused on advancing technological cooperation to increase oil production across key fields in South Sudan.

“In Unity State, blocks 1, 2, and 4, as well as Ruweng Administrative and blocks 3 and 7,” Wol said.

He said the CNPC team emphasised their strong commitment to South Sudan’s petroleum sector and expressed their readiness to mobilise resources and technology in line with the country’s national priorities.

“Both sides engaged in constructive discussions focusing on identifying viable strategies to enhance oil production in existing fields and improve operational efficiency.”

He added that the government of South Sudan is dedicated to ensuring that natural resources are utilised effectively to contribute to national development and economic stability.

South Sudan resumed oil production and exports via Sudan on June 10 after repairs were made to a pipeline damaged amid Sudan’s internal conflict.

Last month, Sudan’s army-aligned government ordered energy firms to prepare to halt shipments of South Sudanese crude—a major blow to its landlocked neighbour, which relies on Sudan for oil exports and derives over 90% of its revenue from petroleum.

South Sudan’s oil exports—currently estimated at 110,000 barrels per day—are typically shipped via Port Sudan, with Sudan taking transit fees.

Exports had only resumed in January after a yearlong suspension due to pipeline damage from earlier clashes.