South Sudan has encouraged Saudi Arabian enterprises, including state-owned Saudi Aramco, to participate in South Sudan’s upstream sector to foster bilateral collaboration between the two oil-dependent countries. At the same time, Dr Chol Deng Thon Abel, the Managing Director of Nile Petroleum Corp., appealed while simultaneously announcing government plans to create 23 new exploration areas.

While South Sudan offers investors very promising, unexplored territory, with technical surveys conducted in less than 10% of the country, Saudi Arabia, as the world’s third-largest oil producer, can supply superior technical expertise, training, equipment, and technology.

Dr Abel said: “Given the recent experience of South Sudan in the field of oil exploration and production, it is in dire need of technical assistance.”

“As managing director of NilePet in 2020, I sent a letter to Aramco’s CEO urging them to enter into oil investment in South Sudan and to provide training for the national cadre in South Sudan.”