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PORT SUDAN — Sudan has declared force majeure on South Sudan crude oil exports after a rupture in the country’s export pipeline in a conflict zone.
“Force majeure” is a legal clause that allows parties to be released from contractual obligations when circumstances beyond their control arise, such as natural disasters or war.
Sudan, which has been in a deadly civil war since April last year, has transportation obligations for South Sudan’s oil.
In a Friday letter to companies involved in transporting South Sudanese oil, Sudan’s Energy and Petroleum Minister Mohieldin Naim Mohamed said the pipeline rupture prompts the suspension of crude oil exports through Port Sudan.
“As such, the government of Sudan is declaring a force majeure which disables us from meeting our obligations in delivering crude oil in and through the BAPCO Transportation System to the Bashayer 2 Marine Terminal,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed said Khartoum notified Juba on Feb. 10 that the operator of the Jabalayn-Port Sudan Pipeline (BAPCO) observed a flow restriction in Pump Station 5. It was later discovered that a gelling incident occurred between Pump Stations 4 and 5, located in a military operations zone.
“The government of Sudan would like to hereby convey that [on] 10th February 2024, a restriction of flow was witnessed by [the] Operator of [the] Jabalayn-Port Sudan pipeline (BAPCO) in pump station 5,” he said.
“It became subsequently clear that [a] gelling incident took place in the area between pump station 4 and pump station 5. The said area is a military operation zone which has been inaccessible to the operator which was due to war, unable to supply PS4 with diesel necessary for heating the crude [oil] to prevent gelling.”
He said the Rapid Support Forces had cut off access to the zone, where intensive fighting occurs.
“BAPCO subsequently cleared out the gelling and flow resumed only to stop the next day detected by a severe drop in pressure. It was investigated and subsequently discovered that a major rupture took place 18km north of pump station 3, and this area is also [a] military operation area,” he said.
Mohamed said repair teams were sent to the area but could only begin work after obtaining security clearance.
We don’t even get to taste the oil money. To hell with it. No salaries, embassies closed, dollar sky rocketing, water and electricity unaffordable.
For the majority of South Sudanese, they are actually dead. Nothing to loose anymore. Let’s ALL die.
South Sudan should explore alternative routes to the sea for its oil like LAPSET.
Bad news!
thank u