The Government of South Sudan has announced the resumption of crude oil exports to the international market after more than a year of suspension.
The export halt was triggered by the outbreak of war in neighboring Sudan, which severely damaged key oil pipelines that transport South Sudan’s crude through Sudan to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
In March 2024, the Khartoum government declared a force majeure, citing the inability to guarantee safe transportation of oil due to the ongoing conflict.
The disruption dealt a heavy blow to both economies, as oil is a critical revenue source for both Sudan and South Sudan. In response, South Sudanese officials visited Port Sudan in late 2024 to assess the extent of the damage and explore restoration options.
On Tuesday, speaking on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC-TV), Mohammed Lino, a technical advisor at the Ministry of Petroleum, confirmed that South Sudan’s crude oil had successfully reached the marine terminal and was ready for export.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate BAPCO for the great achievement over the past few days in ensuring the safe arrival of South Sudan’s crude at the marine terminal. It is now ready for export,” Lino said.
He emphasized that the resumption of oil exports would significantly ease the country’s economic crisis. “This is good news for us in South Sudan. Since last year, we have faced serious economic hardship due to the suspension of oil exports. The halted pipeline carried a major share of our crude production,” he added.
He added, “But thank God, through your efforts and dedication, we have managed to restore the flow. We hope today’s discussions will lead to further improvements in the oil sector,” he stated.
Efforts to repair the damaged pipeline gained momentum in May 2024 when Sudanese authorities, led by Deputy Chairman Malik Agar of the Transitional Sovereign Council, committed to restoring the infrastructure.
In a statement released that month, the council noted: “The Deputy Chairman was briefed on the progress of the work and the efforts being made to repair the pipeline transporting South Sudanese oil through Sudanese territory.”
With the resumption of exports, both countries are expected to see some relief from the financial strain caused by the prolonged disruption in oil revenue. However, sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges both countries need to address in the wake of rising insecurity.
