South Sudan reduces oil output amid shutdown fears
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July 19, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Friday announced that it had
reduced its oil output to avoid any effect an abrupt shutdown would
have on the environment should Khartoum decide to halt the young
nation’s oil export.
JPEG - 66.7 kb
South Sudan cabinet in session September 1, 2012 (file/photo ST)
The oil matter, an official told reporters in the capital, Juba was
one of the main issues members of the country’s cabinet deliberated on
at its Friday meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir.
On Tuesday, Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) called upon
South Sudanese authorities to expedite the implementation of the
cooperation agreement between the two countries before it halts the
flow of the southern oil through its territory.
“Yes, I just briefed the cabinet about my recent visit to china and
about [the] current measures we are taking as the ministry together
with our partners and other relevant institutions,” said petroleum
minister, Stephen Dhiew Dau.
We have started reducing the production rate in preparation for
threats and warnings issued by the Sudanese government, he added.
A reduction could see the country’s oil production drop to just
100,000 barrel per day, from the 200,000 it used to produce when it
resume production in April following last year’s shut down.
South Sudan, before last year’s oil shutdown, used to pump nearly
300,000 barrels per day of its oil, which it transports through Port
Sudan in the Red Sea.
The minister further said the smooth stoppage of the oil production
would have a control effect on the environmental dangers spilled oil
would have on surrounding areas.
“As you know, more than 90% of our people live in the rural areas
[and] depend on the natural environment for their livelihood”, Dau
said shortly after the cabinet meeting.
According to the petroleum minister, pollution resulting from
inadequate preparations and abrupt oil stoppage, could destroy vital
resource on which local population in the rural areas depend.
“We are much concerned about environmental damage which the abrupt
stoppage of the production would cause; because it would result to
pollution, which kills fish,” the minister stressed.
In numerous cases, these long term effects undermine source of
livelihood. This is why we are concerned, he added.
In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of
agreements labelled Cooperation Agreement, which covered several
outstanding issues including oil, citizenship rights, security issues,
banking, border trade among others.
Also, both countries in March signed an implementation matrix for
these cooperation agreements.
Last month, however, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir
ordered the closure of all pipelines carrying oil from South Sudan
within 60-day period from 9 June, alleging Juba habours and supports
rebel groups fighting the Sudanese army in Blue Nile South Kordofan
and Darfur.
Juba has repeatedly denied these allegations and instead blames the
Khartoum regime for allegedly backing several militia groups fighting
the southern regime.
EDUCATION AND POWER ISSUES
Meanwhile, two other ministers, David Deng Athorbei (electricity and
dams) and Peter Adwok Nyaba (higher education and scientific
research), also made presentations at the cabinet meeting.
The electricity minister reportedly informed cabinet of the need to
explore all avenues so that the country can find alternative sources
of energy to steer development.
Landlocked South Sudan still relies in fueled-powered generators to
run it day-to-day activities, which in has in the long-run become too
costly to effectively maintain.
On his part, however, the higher education minister is said to have
informed the council of ministers on the fate of South Sudanese
students in the aftermath of the recent strike that rocked the
Egyptian capital, Cairo.
Atem Yak Atem, the deputy information minister told reporters that
cabinet lauded the education minister for amicably handling the
situation before it escalated.
(ST)
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