The Sudanese Oil Minister, Mohammed Awad Zayed, met with his South Sudanese counterpart to discuss oil agreements and technical cooperation to restore Al-Wohda Oil Field and increase oil production in Upper Nile fields.
South Sudan's Petroleum Minister, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, said that the independent state is determined to increase crude oil production by November 2016 to start exports to neighboring Ethiopia.
South Sudan's Foreign Minister, Deng Alor, stated that Sudan has requested China to invest about $1.9b to develop the Sudanese oil fields and to set-up energy projects.
Damage to South Sudan’s oil fields after more than two years of civil war will hamper plans to boost output, Petroleum Minister said adding the country needs the revenue from pumping more oil to tame an economic crisis.
Sudan has cancelled state subsidies on fuel oil, jet fuel, and cooking gas, lifting all administrative restrictions, which allows for the opening of the sector to the private sector.
At least 85 people were killed in South Sudan when a crowd tried to gather fuel from a transport truck that had veered off the road on its way to a region west of the capital Juba, the presidential spokesman said.