The state-owned oil company of South Sudan, Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet), is planning a survey of the country’s oil and mineral resources to attract more investors and speed up exploration and production in South Sudan.

The country has huge mineral potential which includes gold, iron ore, tin etc. According to the Managing Director of Nilepet, Chol Deng Thon Abel, only 10% of the country’s oil reserves have been surveyed.

He said, “So, you still have 90% of the country not surveyed. But we still believe that we have huge reserves, which is why we say South Sudan is an oil-rich country.”

He said the country is trying to attract investors to invest in 14 oil blocks in the country with more blocks to be available for investment soon. Last week, the MD of Nilepet announced the country will be conducting new seismic surveys to increase the number of offers under the postponed licensing rounds to 2021, where he also noted that the state-owned company will also be participating in the rounds.

In July, the country’s Ministry of Petroleum recorded a drop by 20,000 barrels of oil which indicated the country is currently producing 170,000 barrels per day as opposed to its 190,000 barrels per day before the pandemic. The commissioning of the 8,000 barrels per day Safinat refinery has also been postponed as workers had to be evacuated from the site due to fears of a spread of the virus.

ABOUT NILEPET

Nilepet is responsible for the exploration, development, production, value-adding and managing of resources of South Sudan in an efficient and environmentally sound manner. It promotes the sustainability and growth of the country’s oil industry, safeguard the national oil interest and guarantee higher returns for the nation; while developing capable and competent management technical workforce and being a socially responsible and environmentally-friendly business entity.