 Oil production in South Sudan’s Upper Nile state will continue despite ongoing violence in the region, according to government sources.
Last week local officials ordered foreign oil workers to be evacuated from the Gumri and Adar oil fields but the national government has over ruled this decision and ordered production to continue.
Over 800,000 people have fled their homes since fighting broke out in January. South Sudan’s oil production has fallen by around 30% to 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) since the conflict began.
Production in neighbouring Unity state has already been halted, meaning that Upper Nile is the only state still continuing to produce oil.
The South Sudan government cannot afford further losses in oil revenue and will persevere with production despite the growing threat.
The violence has erupted in the state capital, Malakal, some 140km away from the state’s oil fields and key refinery.
The renewed violence has cast doubts over peace talks currently underway in Addis Ababa.
