South Sudan shelves plans to stop crude production after export starts

By Richard Sultan

South Sudan has suspended plans to stop production of its crude oil after export from Port Sudan on the red sea resumed on Monday, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Awow Daniel Chuang said.

Tribal protestors closed the terminals at the sea port and blocking all exports of crude from both Sudan and South Sudan.

“They agreed to open the port for export and the tankers came closer and since morning today they have been loading the crude for export,” Chuang said by phone in Juba.

“They have agreed they will not stop the export of the crude oil and we are very relieved because actually our plan was to completely stop production to zero if no agreement was reached,” he said.

Protesters from the Beja tribes in eastern Sudan who are demonstrating against what they say is a lack of political power and poor economic conditions in the region closed all ports on the Red Sea and the main road between Khartoum and Port Sudan.

A tribal council heading the protests complained about the marginalization of the eastern regions, demands the cancellation of a peace process reached with rebels and as well stopping the establishment of a national conference for eastern issues, which aims at approving development projects in it.

“Most of the ships were not in position to come to dock, and the tankers could not load because of the protests but now they are moving in and Bashayer marine terminal one and two for both Dar Blend and Nile Blend are open and active,” Chuang said.

He however said “the sea port where ships dock and cargo is offloaded is still closed and its affecting imports of cargo.”