The Minority Leader in the National Assembly has sidelined the government’s plan to halt oil operations calling it an unilateral decision that needs careful study before execution.
The Government on Friday instructed foreign oil partners to prepare a shutdown plan following another round of failed negotiations on oil transit fees with the Republic of Sudan.Reading the opposition’s petition during today’s joint national legislature sitting, Minority Leader Onyoti Adigo Nyikwech reminded the assembly that 98 percent of the country’s budget comes from oil revenues and the government does not have any alternative source of income.
He accused the government of not consulting the opposition, civil society groups and other stakeholders before halting oil production.
South Sudan has accused Sudan for looting millions of dollars of crude oil by blocking four ships with more than 3 million barrels of oil from sailing out of Port Sudan, preventing four other ships from docking at Port Sudan and constructing a secret pipeline designed to divert South Sudan’s crude to refineries in Khartoum.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit told the national assembly yesterday that Sudan has looted more than 800 million dollars of oil revenue since December.
Mr Adigo said the government should take serious action against this financial indiscipline.
The opposition questioned the government’s concern over environmental impact on the people following the shutdown that may have irreversible damages to environment in the oil producing areas.
The opposition’s plea however fell on deaf ears as most Members of Parliament openly demonstrated their support for the government’s decision.