Fuel crisis in Unity State relieved by river trade route to Upper Nile
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By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
July 14, 2011 (BENTIU) - Unity states government has opened river
transport between Malakal in Upper Nile and Bentui in an attempt to
relieve the fuel shortages, caused by North Sudan’s blockage of road
transport from passing through South Kordofan.
Despite being oil-rich South Sudan has no refineries and has import or
receive back its oil once it has been processed in North Sudan. South
Sudan separated the the North on July 9 as part of a 2005 peace that
ended a conflict that was fought especially hard around Unity’s oil
fields.
In June conflict between Sudan Armed Forces and northern armed groups
aligned to South Sudan began following an attempt by Khartoum to
disarm the former rebels.
Fuel cost over 180 Sudanese Pounds (SDG) - 67 USD - per 20 litre
Jerrican in Unity State when the north blockage it business
transportation of goods into the southern state.
Last week Unity state opened up the new river route to enable it to
trade with it western neighbour Upper Nile. Poor infrastructure in
South Sudan is one of the major challenges facing the new nation.
Gatluak Pajang Manabul a fuel seller in Kalabalek Market in Bentiu
town told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that prices had dropped following
the new trade route opening.
Pajang added the price of fuel had dropped from 200 SDG to 140 SDG per
20 litre of Jerrican.
However he encouraged the South Sudan government to invest in oil
refineries to stop their reliance on the North. Landlocked South Sudan
will rely on pipelines running through North Sudan to the Red Sea for
the coming years unless it is able to build a pipeline to Kenya.
When the South seceded on July 9 it took with it 75 percent of the old
country’s known oil.
Although the route into Unity state and other states west of the White
Nile were cut off by the North’s blockade, trade from the to Upper
Nile and further down the river Nile has continued.
Small boats and streamers are now shuttling items - mostly oil - from
Malakal to Unity. While the freight capacity might not be enough to
supply the rest of South Sudan affected by the northern blockade, it
is making a noticeable difference.
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