Sudan determined to increase oil production –minister

May 26, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese petroleum minister, Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, pledged Saturday to implement government’s plans to increase oil production this year despite the damage caused to the oil installations in Heglig last April.

Sudan which produces some 115.000 barrels per day, resumed oil production in Heglig oil fields on 2 May after repairing power stations, pipeline and central processing unit. Before the 10 April occupation; the area produce about the half of Sudan oil output, about 55.000 barrels per day.

Unconfirmed reports say Sudan produces currently about 30.000 barrels per day from Heglig after the damaged that affected the installations.

Speaking from Heglig to the official SUNA, the minister said determined to increase the oil produced from Heglig fields operated by a consortium of Chinese, Malaysia, Indian and Sudanese companies called Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Co (GNPOC).

The minister was in Heglig to inspect the ongoing works to restore old power stations and to establish additions stations to cover the needs in electricity of all the oil wells in the region.

In January Sudan said planning to boost its production to 180.000 barrels per day.

Azhari Abdalla, director general of the Oil Exploration and Production Administration (OEPA), earlier this year told Reuters that the recovery rate of the existing fields will be improved to 47% from the current 23%.

He added that new finds of Block 17 and the recent discovery of Block 6 will also contribute to increase the income generated by oil fields.

However security concern might hamper the implementation of these plan,. The attack on Heglig is seen as good example of what can happen in other oil producing areas in South Kordofan and Darfur.

Sudan is facing an important economic crisis due to the lost of South Sudanese oil production after the independence of the later in July 2011.

(ST)

Article source: http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudan-determined-to-increase-oil,42721