By Hon. Puot Kang Chol
20th April 2023.
The Ministry of Petroleum is equally and deeply concern over the continues military clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces in the Republic of Sudan, and expressed our regret for the loss of lives and injuries, including amongst civilians. We at the Ministry of Petroleum urged all the warring parties to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm, and are calling on all actors to return to dialogue to resolve the current crisis in Sudan which directly and equally affects the Economy and Social welfare of both of our beloved countries. Allow the flow of humanitarian assistance to the needy and restore Order. Peace and Peaceful coexistence amongst all citizens of the Country.
1. On behalf of the Ministry of Petroleum and on my own behalf. I would like to reaffirm to the General Public and to all concern citizens of the Republic of South Sudan that the current fighting in the Republic of Sudan have mildly affected the logistics and transportation of the Critical Materials and Equipment through Port Sudan to our oilfields in the Republic of South Sudan.
2. All our oilfields facilities such as the Pipelines, Pump Stations, Field Processing Facilities, Field Surface Facilities and the Export Marine Terminal in the Republic of Sudan are well protected and save from any damage and we continue to produce and export an average of 169,140.81 Barrels of Crude Oil per day from all our oilfields in the Republic of South Sudan as I speak.
3. The Ministry of Petroleum in collaboration with our investment partners, the Management and Technical Teams of all the Joint Operating Companies namely DPOC, GPOC and SPOC, and our counterparts in the Republic of Sudan have already set up an Emergency Response Team (ERT). This Team (ERT) is being guided by a well-defined and structured contingency Plan that will proactively mitigate the severity of the impact of the fighting in Sudan by re-routing all the Logistics and transportation of all our Critical Materials, Chemicals and Equipment through other safer routes.
4. The current Inventories of all Critical Materials, Chemicals and Equipment in the oilfields are enough to sustain a smooth production and exportation activity of our Crude Oil for the next 3 months and the established Emergency Response Team (ERT) are tirelessly working with all the stakeholders and their counterparts in the Republic of Sudan to ensure continues production of crude oil in the Republic of South Sudan despite the ongoing fighting in the Republic of Sudan
5. The Emergency Response Team (ERT) are being guided by a well-defined and structured Contingency plans that includes:
1. Continues Communication and corporation with the relevant authorities at the port of Mombasa in Kenya and Port of Djibouti in Djibouti to ensure timely clearance and transportation of all Critical Materials, Chemicals and Equipment bound for the oilfield activities in the Republic of South Sudan if any in those ports.
2. Timely evacuation of all our Personnel and Assets based in the Republic of Sudan to a safer location if and when deemed necessary and safe.
3. Proactive planning and procurement of all the Critical Materials, Chemicals, Equipment and Long Lead Items (LLI) needed for the Oilfield activities in the Republic of South Sudan
4. Continues communication and corporation with our counterparts and all the relevant institutions in the Republic of Sudan to ensure continues production and exportation activities of the Crude Oil from our oilfields in the Republic of South Sudan.
5. Close monitoring of all inventories and material consumption to ensure a proper and proactive procurement planning and timely delivery of all Critical Materials, Chemicals and Equipment to the oilfields which will ensure a continues crude oil production and exportation activities.
6. Close monitoring of the unfolding situation in the Republic of Sudan to better prepare and plan for any eventuality if deemed necessary and appropriate.
7. Continues communication and updating the general public and the leadership of the Country through the office of the honorable Minister of Petroleum on the impact of the fighting in Sudan on the crude oil production and exportation activities in the Republic of South Sudan.
We, at the Ministry of Petroleum retaliates the stand of our Government under His Excellency. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan that calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, commencement of dialogue between all the warring parties to bring this fighting to an immediate end, and stop the suffering of the civil population through a peaceful mean. We also reaffirmed our strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Sudan.
Thank you very much and may the Almighty God Bless and Protect all the People of the Republic of Sudan during this Critical time in the history of their beloved country.