South Sudan deploys more troops in oil fields to increase production

[Elisabeth Janaina]

South Sudan deploys more troops in oil fields to increase production

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February 16, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan has deployed more troops in
preparation for the resumption oil production in areas where
activities were halted as a result of the December 2013 outbreak of
conflict, which badly affected production in Unity state and parts of
the Upper Nile region.

JPEG - 17.4 kb
A worker walks through an oil production facility in Paloch in South
Sudan’s Upper Nile state, on 5 May 2013 (Photo: Hannah Mcneish/AFP)

The head of Nilepet, the country’s national oil company, disclosed
Thursday that government hopes production resumes after preparations
are fully completed.

“The government is doing the best to ensure that there is adequate
protection at the sites where oil production would resume soon in
unity. Preparations are underway,” said Machar Ader Achiek.

“The security forces are on the ground to provide adequate security
and to ensure the safety of the oil workers and operators”, he added.

Local authorities, Achiek said, have started sensitising communities
around the area to embrace peaceful dialogue and to help government at
their level to bolster security at oil installations at Tharjiath
field and other sites.

“Oil is a national resource and it is when it is extracted that the
government can now be able to provide services to the people. If
extraction is affected, the delivery of the basic services is also
affected. So the resumption of the oil production is in the interest
of both the government and the communities from where it is
extracted,” explained Achiek.

He added, “This is why protection of oil sites requires cooperation
from the communities”.

The Sudanese government, according to the head of the state-owned oil
entity, agreed to provide electricity from Heglig and to work
collaboratively with the south Sudanese authorities to protect oil
workers engaged in production.

Northern Liech state information minister, Lam Tungwar said the state
government will do its best to help the national government provide
protection to workers in the oil fields as requested by the minister
of petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, when he visited the newly-created
state last month.

Since its independence, South Sudan has relied on oil for all income—a
situation that has significantly compounded ongoing political and
economic instability due to fall in crude oil prices.

According to South Sudanese officials, production in the past reached
as high as 350,000 bpd but fell after a dispute with Sudan over fees
for pumping South Sudan’s crude through Sudan’s export pipeline, which
led Juba to halt production in 2012.

South Sudan got the lion’s share of the oil when it split from Sudan
in 2011, but it’s only export route is through Sudan, giving Khartoum
leverage and leading to the ongoing pricing disputes.

(ST)
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16 February 19:55, by Eastern

So as the kleptocrats reinforce Thargat, Kaya, Naapal, Aswa, etc
should become the main targets!!!!!

repondre message
17 February 06:44, by Midit Mitot

Nonsense, where were those forces, you are always confusing civilians,

repondre message
17 February 05:39, by Tilo

This is not the best solution yet.
End the war and work with no fear of fighting erupting, Oil and
gas is more hazardous and is a weapon on its own, the government
should not make a mistake where it can have more impact on the
community living in and around the oil field. Oil and gas is a risky
business that has Ratio active, Explosive, chemicals, (H2S, HOS, crude
oil etc, that can be catastrophic

repondre message
17 February 06:10, by Joseph Canada

Another Government Employee resigned!! Lets here the Fate of the
accusations he will be Given by LUL RUAI KOANG!!Or by the Dinka
manipulators for that matter!