Sudan, South Sudan discuss pipeline fees

JUBA, February 4, 2016 – Officials from South Sudan and Sudan met to review the charges for transporting crude across northern Sudan on Wednesday.

South Sudanese Minister of Petroleum and Mining Stephen Dhieu Dau said the two governments would abandon the fixed rate of USD 15 per barrel and instead opt for a pricing model indexed to the price of oil. His Sudanese counterpart said the two parties had “agreed in principle” on reducing the monthly payments. A final agreement is expected by the end of next week.

Landlocked South Sudan has been forced to use export facilities on the Upper Nile for its access to international markets after seceding from Sudan in 2011.