Mohamed Lino Benjamin, the First Undersecretary of South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mining Ministryon Thursday announced establishment of the Petroleum Authority.

In a press conference at the premises of the ministry, Benjamin said that the establishment of this body came in accordance with the Petroleum Act.

The senior official at the ministry further said the directorate of petroleum will be replaced by the Petroleum Authority.

He pointed out that the law gives the ministry the right to form a body that can implement government activities in the oil sector in South Sudan.

The Authority’s function is to advise the ministry on oil activities and monitor activities pertaining to oil exploration in accordance with the law.

South Sudan's petroleum ministry is slated to be handed over to a new minister from the SPLM-IO opposition group, accordig to a deal reached in January.