China’s Shengli Oilfield Keer Engineering and Construction Company (Sokec) has signed a landmark agreement with South Sudan’s state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet) to construct modern oil refinery and storage facilities in the country.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Sokec President Wu Song and Nilepet Managing Director Muhammad Lino Benjamin.
This agreement marks the beginning of Sokec’s investment in South Sudan, the youngest nation in Africa.
Benjamin praised Sokec for its contributions to South Sudan’s development, expressing optimism about the partnership.
“With this MoU, we hope it will lead to agreements and projects that we can jointly undertake,” he stated during the signing ceremony in Juba, South Sudan’s capital.
Wu Song assured that Sokec would promptly begin preparations for the refinery and storage facility projects, aiming to boost production capabilities and operational efficiency in South Sudan’s oil sector.
A high-level Sokec delegation began a two-day visit on Monday to Tharjiath in Unity State to inspect oil fields and assess the current state of refinery operations.
Kuol Deng Maleith, Director General of Midstream at Nilepet, emphasized that the collaboration with Sokec is a significant step in modernizing and expanding South Sudan’s oil industry.
He underscored the critical role of international investors in advancing the country’s oil sector and driving economic growth.
