South Sudan may restart export of its heavy sweet Dar Blend crude oil via the Petrodar pipeline to the Bashayer Marine Terminal in Port Sudan in six to eight weeks.
The Petrodar pipeline, which transports approximately 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) for export via Sudan, has been hampered by stoppages since February.
As stated by South Sudan’s Finance Minister Awow Daniel Chuang to Argus Media, the pipeline will undergo repairs while the country continues to rely on the Greater Nile Pipeline to carry its Nile Blend crude oil from the Jath and Mala oil fields to the Bashayer terminal for export.
The pipeline has suffered gelling issues, leaks and pressure drops, primarily because of diesel shortages, which is used to heat and dilute the crude to help it flow.
Conflict in Sudan has made maintenance challenging. As a result of the disruption, South Sudan’s crude production halved to around 80,000 bpd in March from around 150,000 bpd previously.
