S. Sudan threatens to suspend oil companies over regulatory breaches

JUBA — The government of South Sudan has threatened to suspend oil companies operating in oil fields should they fail to comply with environmental regulations.

Minister of Environment and Forestry, Josephine Napwon Cosmas said the Ministry will suspend any company that fails to comply with the rules and procedures put in place to protect the environment.

 “It is a must for oil companies to comply with regulations of the environment because I personally visited the oil fields and what is reflected in oil fields is not what we talk about here,” Napwon said during the launch of environmental audit bidders’ tender opening in Juba on Tuesday.

“The pollution in oil fields is real. Our people are dying at expenses of getting money. The lives of our people matter and I would like these oil companies to take this into consideration, otherwise, if what I said here is not taken into consideration, we have the right as a Ministry to stop the operation,” Cosmas added.

She promised to file a law case against a company that might go astray intended purpose for auditing.

“We will file a case against any company that might go astray. People have lost lives and many women are giving birth to children with deformities,” she disclosed.

She directed the oil companies shortlisted for environmental audit to submit their findings to her Ministry action.

“After completion of the section process, those companies that will qualify to carry out environmental audit in oil fields will have to apply to the Ministry of Environment for authorization to proceed with auditing,” she said.