Serving as South Sudan’s official energy event and the only event dedicated to oil and gas, renewable energy, mining and infrastructure development in East Africa, the South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2024 conference and exhibition is poised to open dynamic opportunities for investment, valuation and exploration at the intersection of the Middle East and North, Central and East Africa.
Taking place in Juba from June 25-28, SSOP 2024 will open dynamic opportunities for oil production and export, driving resource monetization, economic diversification and social development in the region. With plans to increase oil production to 230,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2026 and develop a 60,000-bpd refinery to meet domestic demand, South Sudan is uniquely positioned as East Africa’s sole oil producer to leverage this event and meet the next generation of regional energy development.
SSOP 2024 positions South Sudan at the center of investments and partnerships in the East African energy landscape. Taking place in Juba on June 25-28, 2024, the conference and exhibition invites investors to explore and engage with opportunities across the hydrocarbons, renewable energy and power sectors. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
Boosting Regional Integration
In February, oil and gas company Wildcat Petroleum passed a requisite due diligence process in South Sudan, enabling the company to undertake petroleum deals in the country, including large-scale oil production purchases. The company was subsequently invited by South Sudan’s Petroleum Ministry to enter discussions on current oil production opportunities in the country. This comes as Wildcat Petroleum aims to build its African upstream portfolio, targeting opportunities in Sudan, Chad, Niger, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Libya.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining and South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy signed a MoU in February for collaboration in the mining sector, which will see enhanced cooperation in mineral exploration, knowledge transfer and capacity building. Meanwhile, in June 2023, South Africa’s state-owned African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation announced it is actively seeking partnerships with South Sudanese mining companies, which are poised to leverage rising international demand for critical and industrial minerals.
Furthermore, a visit by South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to meet his counterpart and discuss integration and international cooperation highlighted the importance of peace and stability in the region. South Sudan and Kenya also agreed to pursue joint infrastructure projects last year, which are expected to attract investment in sectors such as transportation, logistics and trade-related services while creating new business opportunities and promote economic development in the East African region.
Calls for Increased Investment
As South Sudan continues to make forays in eastern and southern Africa’s energy development, the country’s national oil company (NOC) Nilepet continues to call for increased investment and international participation in the country’s petroleum sector. In a March 2024 call for investment, the NOC highlighted the upstream sector as a focus area for international involvement. Opportunities for oilfield services, drilling services and exploration technology companies was noted as a key focus area in the country.
With the potential to produce over 500,000 bpd, lucrative opportunities for other African countries to benefit from South Sudan’s vast petroleum resources will take center-stage during SSOP 2024. A call for investors to secure funding for the construction of an oil refinery in South Sudan’s Block 5A will cater to potential markets in Kenya, Uganda and the DRC. According to the Director General of Finance, Service and Administration at Nilepet Dr. Matiok Santino Akuei, the project has amassed a total investment of $29 million, with the refinery’s estimated initial costs currently standing at $3 billion.
In an effort to boost South Sudan’s midstream sector, Nile Services and Logistics Company (Nile SLC) – a subsidiary of Nilepet – and international energy company Zenith Energy forged a strategic partnership in the country with the signing of an MoU. The collaboration focuses on jointly pursuing business opportunities related to the construction of fuel product storage tanks, pipeline and crude oil storage facilities in South Sudan. Zenith Energy will contribute technical, financial and managerial expertise, while Nile SLC will facilitate the identification of business opportunities.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s mining industry boasts significant opportunities for international companies and investors to participate in the country’s nascent industry. Amid efforts to diversify the national economy and move away from an over-reliance on petroleum, South Sudan has begun to implement a series of measures to attract mining investment and is welcoming foreign players to the market.
