Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan ink pact

Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan on Monday agreed to enter into a partnership aimed and bolstering oil and gas co-operation between the two nations.

Signed in Juba by Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima and his South Sudanese counterpart Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, the agreement will see the two countries team up for policy and regulation efforts on matters ranging from gas monetisation and putting an end to flaring to the education and training of South Sudanese workers.

Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan also agreed to promote oil and gas projects across the value chain and pledged to encourage co-operation between GEPetrol and Nile Petroleum Corporation.

“South Sudan is proud to share its experiences with Equatorial Guinea, and to learn from the great work of our fellow African producer. The petroleum industry is crucial to our nation’s development. This agreement signals our dedication to investing in the sector as a driver for South Sudan’s growth,” Gatkuoth said in comments on the agreement.

His sentiment was echoed by Obiang Lima, who said, “Going forward, Equatorial Guinea will work closely with South Sudan for the benefit of our people and our national economies. The lines of communication are open and we look forward to a deep and lasting collaboration.”