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JUBA - 18 Jun 2019

New oil minister vows transparency in oil deals

Photo: Petroleum minister Awow Daniel Chuang © Reem Mohammed/The National
Photo: Petroleum minister Awow Daniel Chuang © Reem Mohammed/The National

South Sudan’s new oil minister on Monday vowed to subject the country’s oil industry to scrutiny and promote accountable management of revenues.

Awow Daniel Chuang told Radio Tamazuj that he will ensure transparency in the sale of crude oil to drive the growth of the economy.

“When we sell our crude oil, we will allow everybody to know so that everybody knows this money has come to the bank,” he said.

“We will tell everybody that this is what we have generated, and this money is going to the central bank, so it is going to be the policy,” he added.

Transparency is critical to ensure effective management of oil revenues in the country, according to the minister.

Oil production

Chuang also promised to boost oil and gas production by attracting more investments in the country, saying the ministry would work to rejuvenate aging oil wells to boost output.

“This is critical to us because our oil wells are aging and we have to enhance the discovery so that we grow,” he said.

The new minister, who formerly served as director general at the petroleum ministry, said he would work to restore crude production to the levels it reached before the conflict.

Oil pollution

The minister has promised to reduce environmental pollution in the oil-producing regions.  Chuang said he will ensure the companies carrying out explorations to guard against environmental pollution.

“We want to make sure that we work on how to mitigate environmental pollution,” he said.

Domestic oil firms

 The new minister pledged he would empower domestic companies working in the oil sector and vowed to instil transparency in oil deals.

 “I want to work hard to make sure that the local companies and the local contents are empowered. They need to be given more opportunities,” he said.

“Local and international companies that will be working must employ people,” he added.

Oil-rich South Sudan is struggling to increase production of crude oil several months after the signing of the revitalised peace deal.

Currently it pumps about 175,000 barrels per day of crude oil.