Speaking to reporters on 29 December, Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum, ‘Awad Ahmad al-Jaz said the country had increased its oil producing capacity to 140,000 b/d, and revealed plans to add a further 10,000 b/d to this total in 2013.

Since losing around three-quarters of its near 450,000 b/d former oil production to the South last year, Sudan has been pushing hard to raise both its production capacity and output. The resulting oil loss hit the country’s economy hard, as it had previously made up the lion’s share of its revenues. Oil proceeds represented the government’s main source of US dollars, which are needed to fund imports. (CONTINUED - 730 WORDS)