Oil production begins in Sudan’s White Nile state

Oil production started in Block 25 in the Rawat field in Sudan’s White Nile state on Friday. The first phase of production will yield a daily capacity of 440 barrels from the first well of Rawat oil field in El Salam locality.

The field will eventually have seven wells in production, which are expected to produce over 3,000 barrels per day.

Acting Minister of Energy and Mining, Kheiri Abdelrahman, attended the launch of the well. He promised that the El Rawat oil wells will benefit development projects in the region through “social responsibility programmes” run by oil companies.

Abdelrahman noted that the oil production in Rawat was “100 per cent pure Sudanese efforts,” appreciating the efforts of workers in the field and the advanced technical arrangements that will attract investment.

Ismail Warrag, the Governor of White Nile state, said that his state is contributing to securing and preparing an effective production environment. He indicated that he agrees with the Minister of Energy, who wants to give priority to the production of crude oil to the state, in addition to sugar plantations, cement plants and other economic projects in the state. He said the state will benefit from these programmes.

SUDAPET company, which owns Rawat field, said that the crude oil will be used as fuel, in the first year of production, by sugar and cement factories.

The Minister of Energy and his accompanying delegation also visited the Bashayer oil refinery in Jabalein locality, and maintenance operations at the Um Dabakir power station in Rabak locality.

The government officials also visited construction work on four schools, part of the social responsibility programmes in the state. He listened to demands of residents while he was there, which include improvement of infrastructure in the state to facilitate the provision of services.

Last month, the energy minister announced that Sudan will offer 27 oil concession blocks through a global bid, of which three are offshore blocks and the rest are land blocks.

Environmental experts and MPs have pointed more than once to health hazards threatening the people who are living close to the oil fields.

In 2019, an investigation by InfoNile into the oil industry in West Kordofan documented increased droughts and health conditions affecting people and animals exposed to oil contamination in the air, on the roads, and in local waterways.

Radio Dabanga’s editorial independence means that we can continue to provide factual updates about political developments to Sudanese and international actors, educate people about how to avoid outbreaks of infectious diseases, and provide a window to the world for those in all corners of Sudan. Support Radio Dabanga for as little as €2.50, the equivalent of a cup of coffee.