South Sudan Opens Block B3 to New Investors After Ending Oranto Petroleum Exploration Deal
South Sudan has decided not to renew the Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) held by Oranto Petroleum for Block B3 after determining that the company failed to meet key contractual obligations.
According to the Ministry of Petroleum, a review of the six-year agreement found that Oranto did not complete critical work program commitments, including required seismic surveys and agreed drilling activities.
The ministry also said the company failed to fulfill certain financial obligations to the government and did not deliver on broader project commitments outlined in the contract.
Oranto Petroleum, a Nigerian oil company founded in the early 1990s, operates alongside its affiliate Atlas Petroleum and holds exploration licences across several African countries, including Uganda, Ghana, Liberia, Namibia, Nigeria, and Senegal.
Following the review, South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum announced that Block B3 is now open for new applications.
The government is inviting qualified regional and international oil and gas companies capable of meeting exploration timelines, fulfilling contractual requirements, and establishing long-term partnerships in the country’s energy sector.
The decision reflects South Sudan’s broader effort to strengthen accountability and attract investors capable of advancing exploration and production activities in its oil industry, which remains central to the country’s economy.
