Sudan, South Sudan Agree To Ease Oil Trade Via Free Zone

KHARTOUM (Sudan), Dec 17 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Sudan and South Sudan agreed on Tuesday to establish a free zone at Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast to facilitate oil imports and exports and other goods between the two countries, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

The agreement was announced in a joint statement following a four-day visit to Sudan by a South Sudanese delegation headed by Presidential Adviser Tut Gatluak Manime.

According to the statement, the two sides agreed to facilitate oil-sector imports and exports as well as other goods through the establishment of a free zone in Port Sudan in eastern Sudan.

The statement said that “fruitful discussions” were held to strengthen cooperation, consultation and coordination between the two countries in various oil-related fields.

This includes securing, operating and managing oilfields in the Heglig and Bamboo areas of West Kordofan state in southern Sudan, it added.

The two sides also agreed to “activate joint committees, expand smart partnerships and exchange political and diplomatic support in regional and international forums,” according to the statement.

The two countries also agreed to “strengthen banking and financial channels between the two countries and enhance their contribution to achieving peace and stability in both states,” the statement said.

South Sudan’s oil is exported via a Sudanese pipeline that starts from the border area of Heglig, which currently produces 50 per cent of Sudan’s crude oil.

The pipeline extends for 1,610 kilometres, passing through several processing stations before reaching Bashayer Port on the Red Sea.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU