By G9ija
South Sudan has concluded intensive preparations for the re-launch of its oil production on Saturday at Toma South blocks 1, 2 and 4.
The Toma South oil blocks are El Mar, El Toor, Manga and Unity oilfields.
The move is to boost the East-Central African nation’s oil and gas to accelerate its economic progress
The project is to be jointly carried out by the Ministry of Petroleum of South Sudan and Greater Pioner Operating Company (GPOC), with the support of 2B Operating Company (2B OPCO) of Sudan.
The technical teams are from the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of Sudan who have been working on the ground for the past month to rehabilitate facilities and ensure security.
A series of visits to the fields have been made by the minister of petroleum of South Sudan, Mr. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Mr. Azhari A Abdalla, minister of petroleum and gas of Sudan, with direct supervision from Salva Kiir Mayardiit, the President of South Sudan.
The site, according to assessment, is ready to resume operations.
With this announcement, blocks 1, 2 and 4 are now fully operational, starting with 45,000 bpd of production at Toma South.
“This will be followed by El Nar, El Toor, Manga and Unity oilfields, while the ministries work to uncap Sudd Petroleum Operating Company’s block 5A and resume production by the end of 2018.’’
The Ministry of Petroleum of the Republic of South Sudan and the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas of the Republic of Sudan will be working to resolve remaining technical issues on block 5A in the coming months.
Gatkuoth said: “South Sudan’s recovery and march to prosperity is firmly underway, and we are working hand in hand with our neighbours in Sudan to achieve production resumption at major oilfields.
“We commit to building on the achievements at Toma South and bring our petroleum industry to full strength as quickly as possible.”
The minister of petroleum would speak at the Africa Oil and Power 2018 conference in Cape Town from 5-7 September, where he will update investors on the latest developments.
From 21-22 November 2018, Juba will host the South Sudan Oil and Power conference, where the Sudanese government will present investment opportunities in the country.