Civil war-torn Sudan has shut down its Heglig oil facilities after a series of drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raising fears for South Sudan’s crude exports that rely on the site for transit. The Energy and Petroleum Ministry confirmed the shutdown in a letter to Juba dated August 30, citing repeated attacks as making operations impossible in good faith, according to Al Arabiya.
Heglig is a critical hub on the Greater Nile Oil Pipeline, where South Sudanese Nile Blend crude is measured and transferred before moving to Port Sudan. The facility has been struck at least twice in the past week, with damage to the airport terminal reported, forcing staff to evacuate, Reuters said. Sudanese operators 2B OPCO and PETCO have both withdrawn personnel and warned that they cannot guarantee upcoming liftings.
South Sudan exports nearly all of its oil through Sudan’s pipeline system. Before the civil war reignited in 2023, Sudan processed between 100,000 and 150,000 barrels per day, providing vital foreign exchange for both economies. Radio Tamazuj reported that South Sudan currently exports about 110,000 bpd, underscoring the scale of flows now at risk.
Analysts warn that a prolonged disruption could undermine regional oil flows as South Sudan lacks an alternative route to market. A senior PETCO engineer told bdnews24 that safety concerns and repeated RSF targeting left the company with no choice but to suspend work.
The strikes on Heglig follow earlier RSF drone attacks against infrastructure in Port Sudan, showing how the conflict has expanded from ground battles to systematic targeting of energy assets. The developments put both Khartoum and Juba under pressure as they confront the risk of prolonged revenue losses tied directly to crude transit.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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