Energy Minister Reveals Important Information on Oil Production
The Sudanese Minister of Energy and Oil, Muhyiddin Naeem Muhammad Saeed, said that oil production in Sudan before the war in March 2023 was about 38 thousand barrels per day.
He pointed out that in January 2023 it was 44 thousand barrels per day, but after the war, production decreased to about 18 thousand barrels per day, as the refinery was completely out of service due to the militia.
The minister pointed out that fuel consumption after the war decreased to about 50% and consumption became about (3,200,000) three million and two hundred thousand tons per year instead of 6 million tons per year.
He added that this decline was not due to displacement from Khartoum State due to war conditions, but for a long time there has been stability in fuel dating back to before the war thanks to the trend towards liberalizing fuel prices, lifting subsidies and selling at cost, which led to the cessation of queues and the crisis in fuel for two reasons: rationalizing consumption due to the rise in prices and selling at real cost, and stopping smuggling of fuel outside the country.
He said that covering all the country’s needs for petroleum products at the present time is done through free imports, pointing out that the Khartoum refinery used to provide about 40% of Sudan’s needs, but it is currently suspended due to the war.
He said that the Chinese company CMIC will rehabilitate the electricity sector in the country, considering it as a qualified company with many experiences in Sudan, as it will begin rehabilitating the Al-Fula station and it will be operated to cover all Darfur states.
He stressed that there is an urgent need to develop the electricity sector in Sudan after the damage it suffered due to the war.
He said that the priority in work will be in the agricultural and mining production areas and that the Chinese company will also work to rehabilitate the electricity transmission lines that were destroyed due to the war.
The Minister of Energy and Oil referred to the Chinese company’s extensive experience in the field of solar energy, indicating that there are efforts to operate the Umm Dabakar station in a better way, which helps in the sustainability of the electricity supply.