(WO) – South Sudan is seeking new investment to expand oil production, open up exploration acreage and upgrade petroleum infrastructure. It plans to raise crude output from about 174,000 bpd to 230,000 bpd in the near term and has 14 exploration blocks available. The country, which holds an estimated 3.5 billion bbl of proven oil reserves, is looking for new operators and technical partners for undeveloped acreage, along with ways to improve efficiency at its mature fields.
Regional national oil companies are already active. The South African National Petroleum Co. (SANPC), through its subsidiary Strategic Fuel Fund, holds a 90% interest in Block B2 alongside South Sudan’s national oil company, Nile Petroleum Corp. (Nilepet). SANPC is preparing further exploration work there, including a planned 2D seismic campaign.
Nilepet is seeking partners for a proposed 350-km (217-mi) crude pipeline connecting the Tharjiath oil fields in Block 5A with the Paloch oil fields in Blocks 3 and 7. It is also looking for investment in refinery development and in expanded fuel storage, distribution and LPG infrastructure.
New African financing could help. The Africa Energy Bank, formally established Oct. 31 by the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization and Afreximbank with $5 billion in authorized capital, is expected to start financing projects in 2027, with an initial focus on regional infrastructure such as pipelines and refining. No funding has been committed to South Sudan so far. Afreximbank also has a trade finance partnership with South Sudan’s Kush Bank, which can support equipment imports through letters of credit and bank guarantees.
South Sudan’s investment opportunities will be discussed at the South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) conference in Juba on Nov. 24–25.
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