Sudan has exposed plans to lift its oil production to 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of the year in an attempt to boost its oil and gas sector. Because of these disclosed plans to increase oil production in the country, the oil ministry is receiving praise due to the oil ministry’s exploration efforts across the country. Oil plays an instrumental role in developing the petroleum sector, allowing for the creation of a large pool of qualified engineers and geologists.
Furthermore, oil exports accounted for 91% of Sudan’s national income until South Sudan’s secession in July 2011, after which the figure fell to 10%. The East African country, which currently produces 136,000-140,000 bpd, lost three-quarters of its output when South Sudan seceded.
Sudan had originally planned to reach 180,000 bpd by the end of the 2012, but its major Heglig oilfield was damaged during a brief occupation by South Sudan’s army and border fighting between the two countries in April of that year. Numerous oil fields have recently been inaugurated in Sudan, which has added approximately 20,000 bpd to the country’s oil production.
The latest news concerning the oil production within Sudan:
South Sudan is not prepared to close its oil production, in spite of threats from Sudan’s president to cut off transportation in a continuing dispute over support for the rebels. Sudan’s President al-Bashir ordered a standstill to the export of crude oil from South Sudan through their pipelines if South Sudan does not stop supporting rebels who operate in the border region.
South Sudan is calling on the African Union to intervene. South Sudan is continuing oil production in spite of an order from Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, to stop oil shipments through pipelines in the north.
