That national petroleum minister has accused Khartoum of stealing South Sudan’s crude and preventing shipments to reach international markets.
Stephen Dheu Dau told journalists today that the Sudanese government has reverted into rob crude from South Sudan’s oil fields by ordering operating oil companies to divert 1.2 million barrels of crude oil from Unity state to its refineries in El Obeid and Khartoum.He said Khartoum wrote a letter to foreign oil companies operating in both countries ordering them to supply all the Nile Blend crude oil from Unity state to its refineries right from the first of December.
Mr Dhieu added that Khartoum ordered the companies to deliver 550,000 barrels of Dar blend crude oil from Northern Upper Nile to their designated buyers.
He said the minister of oil in Khartoum also ordered the construction of an illegal pipeline expected to be finished these days connecting the Faluj-Port Sudan pipeline with the refineries in Khartoum.
Mr Dhieu said between December 21 and January 3 the Government of Sudan prevented two ships to leave Port Sudan after they loaded 1.6 million barrels of crude oil South Sudan sold to international buyers valued at almost 18 million dollars.
Khartoum also denied two cargo ships to inter Port Sudan to load 1.2 millions barrels of sold crude.
Mr Dhieu accused Khartoum of spreading lies that South Sudan is not paying transit and processing fees to companies operating pipelines and other facilities.
Foreign oil companies have written to both governments disproving of the claims.