South Sudan has announced plans to resume its oil production, hoping to restore its vital revenue source after the interruption caused by Sudan’s internal conflict earlier this year.
The landlocked nation had relied on the pipeline running through Sudan to export crude oil to global markets.
However, violent clashes between Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces in February caused significant damage to the pipeline, halting operations and straining South Sudan’s economy.
On December 19, the director general of the Petroleum Authority, Kon John Akot, sent a letter declaring December 30, 2024, as the official start date for resuming production at blocks three and seven, two key oilfields in South Sudan.
Despite the announcement, some obstacles remain.
A letter from Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), a major consortium partner in South Sudan’s oilfields, stated on December 23 that unresolved issues require further discussions before production can fully resume.
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, inherited around three-quarters of the former country’s oil reserves.
Prior to the pipeline rupture, the nation produced over 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Although rich in oil, South Sudan continues to face severe challenges. The country is grappling with ethnic violence, chronic instability, and extreme poverty.
In addition, it is dealing with a growing cholera outbreak in the northern regions, where many displaced people from Sudan have sought refuge.