The Minister of Petroleum of the Republic of South Sudan, Hon. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, met with H.E. Azhari Abdul-Gadir Abdalla, Minister of Petroleum and Gas of the Republic of Sudan, this week to discuss the immediate resumption of oil production at two of South Sudan’s three major petroleum operating consortia.
The ministers met at the office of the Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan on Tuesday and pledged to bring oilfields operated by Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC) back on-stream. They also specifically addressed the uncapping of Block 5A and the increase of oil production at the oilfields of Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC).
Oilfields operated by GPOC and SPOC were shut down due to conflict in the northern areas of South Sudan in 2016. DPOC is the only operating company still producing oil, with 130,000 barrels of oil per day produced on average in 2017. All oil produced in South Sudan is evacuated by pipeline through Sudan for export.
The Ministry of Petroleum of South Sudan earlier this year announced that the oilfield areas are once again secure and fields could be brought back on-stream. The two ministers committed themselves to ensure that the resumption and increase of oil production is realized.
