South Sudan depends on its northern neighbour for exporting oil A trade delegation from South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals has arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum ahead of fresh talks to negotiate oil transfers between the two countries. Sudan’s Petroleum Ministry Secretary-General Awad Abdel Fattah has claimed the two-day visit marks a new phase of cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan.
Land-locked South Sudan has no access to seaports and therefore depends on its northern neighbour for oil exports from production sites.
Sudan also lost most of its access to oil fields when South Sudan seceded in 2011.
South Sudanese ministerial undersecretary Mashar Ashek has meanwhile claimed his government is “committed” to cooperation deals signed in Addis Ababa in September last year.
South Sudan has already ordered oil companies to kickstart operations in oil fields across the country, resuming oil production and pumping it through fuel pipelines into Sudan.
Mian Dot, South Sudan’s Ambassador to Khartoum, has even invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir “at any time.”
"Our two countries are going to exchange positive gestures," he said.