Sudan is looking to drum up interest in its stalled upstream, close to three years after losing the majority of its oil producing assets due to South Sudan’s independence in July 2011: since the South’s secession production has been fairly constant at around 110,000 b/d – enough to cover domestic demand, but with none left for export.

Khartoum is looking to attract further investment from foreign firms already present. For the most part this means Asian NOCs: even if western companies were to overcome the ethical concerns (and related shareholder pressure) which saw them quit Sudan, ongoing violence, not to mention the five-week oil civil war in Southern Sudan, means a reassessment of Sudan’s attractiveness is hardly in the offing. (CONTINUED - 742 WORDS)