Sudanese oil workers inspect burnt out equipment at the field in Heglig on the border with the South. The conflict with the Republic of Sudan has further crippled the South Sudanese economy., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Oil refinery project in Unity state suspended
October 2, 2013 (JUBA) – The establishment of what would have been South Sudan’s first ever oil refinery plant in Unity state, is now on hold due to a lack of equipment, a senior official working for the oil sector has revealed.
The year-long refinery project at Tharjiath oil field has been among the government’s the top priorities, along with another project at Thiang-Rial in Upper Nile state aimed at boosting production in the region.
Once operational, the plant would produce 22,000 barrels per day of various types of fuel in order to address the huge domestic demand for the commodity in South Sudan.
Prior to the sacking of the former elected state governor, Taban Deng Gai, officials at the national ministry of petroleum and mining announced that the refinery would soon begin production and that preparations were underway for its inauguration.
However, the managing director of the Nile Petroleum Corporation, Paul Adong, said the process to inaugurate the facility had been suspended because some of the equipment on site needed to be repaired and had not yet been delivered to the country.
Adong, who manages the corporation on behalf of the government as the business wing of the petroleum ministry, said the full implementation of the other refinery project at Thiang-Rial may also be delayed to a lack of adequate equipment.
He said the lack of all-weather roads to access project sites had made delivery of the equipment difficult.
The region has continued to import fuel from neighbouring countries including Uganda, Kenya and Sudan, with rising prices and fuel shortages impacting on supply.
(ST)
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