The Minister of Petroleum says South Sudan will continue oil production amidst mounting pressure from parliamentarians that the country is losing to Khartoum, Sudan; so there should be temporary shutdown.
Ezekiel Lul Gatkuoth says the Ministry of petroleum seeks to increase oil production instead from 133 thousand barrels per day this year to 350 thousand next year, Radio Bakhita reports.
He says government has put measures in place to restore security at oil producing sites.
Minister Lul urges global oil companies to assess new oil blocks and boost investment in the country’s oil sector.
The Petroleum Minister was speaking to journalists at Juba International Airport upon return from several oil conferences in India and Austria.
According to Juba and Khartoum 2012 Cooperation Agreement, South Sudan pays Sudan 24 US Dollars per barrel as transportation fee.
The national parliamentary committee of finance and economy decries the loss, South Sudan is incurring due to global fall in oil prices and Khartoum constant charges without consideration.