S. Sudan Asks Khartoum to Reduce Oil Transportation Fee - Rawan For Media Artistic and Production
Juba said its request was prompted by the fall in oil prices on the international market.
Speaking
to the Ashrooq’s TV South, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial
Benjamin said a request to this effect was presented to the Sudanese
Government.
“Oil
prices have dropped ..They are no longer like in the past ..We have to
see how we can share the oil revenue under these conditions.. And if we
suppose that the oil price can go down to 20 dollars, at that time there
would be nothing to share,’ said the South Sudanese top diplomat.
He said the oil ministers in Khartoum and Juba were discussing the matter, but no decision has been reached so far.
Benjamin has, however, expressed optimism that a solution could be reached on the matter.
Oil prices have been on continuous decline , dropping to less than 36 U.S Dollars per barrel this week.
In
August 2013 South Sudan agreed to pay to Khartoum $9.10 for the oil
produced in Upper Nile state and $11 for that of Unity state which
produces some 20% of South Sudan’s oil. Also Juba agreed to pay the
Transitional Financial Assistance (TFA) to the average of the agreed oil
transportation fees.
In
January 2015, South Sudan’s petroleum minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau said
his country will consider whether to continue paying Sudan $25 per
barrel of oil or push for reduction.
The
$25 per barrel of oil being paid was meant to expedite the repayment of
a $3 billion compensatory package they agreed to pay Sudan.
Benjamin
has further said that President Salva Kiir Mayardit had offered to
mediate between Khartoum and the rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement/North(SPLM/N).
The
TV interview was shot during the recent visit by the South Sudanese
official to Khartoum to attend Sudan’s 60th independence anniversary
celebrations.
Benjamin
has denied his government ‘s intention to arrest the SPLM in Opposition
leader Riek Machar and his group members when they finally return to
Juba.
“Machar
will be safe in Juba.. The guarantee for this is his agreement with
President Salva Kiir that South Sudan should live in peace and
stability,’’ he said.
He
said a transitional government will be formed once Machar is in Juba.
”Nobody is planning to arrest Machar when he arrives in Juba.. His
advance team of 200 troops, led by Taban Deng, is already in Juba,’’ he
added.
Benjamin
also defended Juba’s decision to divide the country into 28 states
which was seen as a violation of the peace accord between the government
and Machar’s group.
“The
division of the states represents a popular wish that has nothing to do
with the peace agreement signed with Machar,’’ he said.
He
also refused to describe the atrocities committed during the three year
conflict as war crimes, saying what had been said was far from the
truth.
He also strongly rejected the calls for referring the issue to the International Criminal Court.
“Those
calls are coming from outside South Sudan and totally contradict the
African Union’s Committee report that denied the occurrence of war
crimes and violations committed in the South.
In reply to a question, Benjamin ruled out the reunification of South Sudan with Sudan .
“The
situation in the Sudan and Southern Sudan dictates the cooperation of
two countries on the basis of two independent states,’’ he said.
He
said the option for confederation between the two countries is in need
of many prerequisites to be met , foremost the promotion of trade and
the economy and the cementing of the relations between the two
countries.
By Sudan Tribune, 13 hours 53 minutes ago
The Government of Southern Sudan has asked Khartoum to cut the lease of Sudanese oil transportation facilities.
Juba said its request was prompted by the fall in oil prices on the international market.
Speaking
to the Ashrooq’s TV South, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial
Benjamin said a request to this effect was presented to the Sudanese
Government.
“Oil
prices have dropped ..They are no longer like in the past ..We have to
see how we can share the oil revenue under these conditions.. And if we
suppose that the oil price can go down to 20 dollars, at that time there
would be nothing to share,’ said the South Sudanese top diplomat.
He said the oil ministers in Khartoum and Juba were discussing the matter, but no decision has been reached so far.
Benjamin has, however, expressed optimism that a solution could be reached on the matter.
Oil prices have been on continuous decline , dropping to less than 36 U.S Dollars per barrel this week.
In
August 2013 South Sudan agreed to pay to Khartoum $9.10 for the oil
produced in Upper Nile state and $11 for that of Unity state which
produces some 20% of South Sudan’s oil. Also Juba agreed to pay the
Transitional Financial Assistance (TFA) to the average of the agreed oil
transportation fees.
In
January 2015, South Sudan’s petroleum minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau said
his country will consider whether to continue paying Sudan $25 per
barrel of oil or push for reduction.
The
$25 per barrel of oil being paid was meant to expedite the repayment of
a $3 billion compensatory package they agreed to pay Sudan.
Benjamin
has further said that President Salva Kiir Mayardit had offered to
mediate between Khartoum and the rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation
Movement/North(SPLM/N).
The
TV interview was shot during the recent visit by the South Sudanese
official to Khartoum to attend Sudan’s 60th independence anniversary
celebrations.
Benjamin
has denied his government ‘s intention to arrest the SPLM in Opposition
leader Riek Machar and his group members when they finally return to
Juba.
“Machar
will be safe in Juba.. The guarantee for this is his agreement with
President Salva Kiir that South Sudan should live in peace and
stability,’’ he said.
He
said a transitional government will be formed once Machar is in Juba.
”Nobody is planning to arrest Machar when he arrives in Juba.. His
advance team of 200 troops, led by Taban Deng, is already in Juba,’’ he
added.
Benjamin
also defended Juba’s decision to divide the country into 28 states
which was seen as a violation of the peace accord between the government
and Machar’s group.
“The
division of the states represents a popular wish that has nothing to do
with the peace agreement signed with Machar,’’ he said.
He
also refused to describe the atrocities committed during the three year
conflict as war crimes, saying what had been said was far from the
truth.
He also strongly rejected the calls for referring the issue to the International Criminal Court.
“Those
calls are coming from outside South Sudan and totally contradict the
African Union’s Committee report that denied the occurrence of war
crimes and violations committed in the South.
In reply to a question, Benjamin ruled out the reunification of South Sudan with Sudan .
“The
situation in the Sudan and Southern Sudan dictates the cooperation of
two countries on the basis of two independent states,’’ he said.
He
said the option for confederation between the two countries is in need
of many prerequisites to be met , foremost the promotion of trade and
the economy and the cementing of the relations between the two
countries.
By Sudan Tribune, 13 hours 53 minutes ago
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