Unity State leaders have held a consultative workshop in Bentiu to look at the Petroleum Act 2012 and see how the oil companies working in the state could create growth and development, Gurtong website reported.

The study session was funded by CORDAID, a Dutch Catholic foundation.

Generation Agency for Development and Transformation (GADET) – Pentagon organized the meeting under the theme “Developing sustainable lobby capacity and building community awareness on the Petroleum Act 2012”.

During the workshop, Kawai Manyjang Gorong, the Unity State Legislative Assembly Chairperson of Gender, child and Social Welfare said the State Parliament will involve the community members in any steps done by the oil companies operating in Unity State.

“The oil companies operating in the State before its shutdown were violating the right of the local community by not consulting them in any steps take in term of oil exploration,” Gorong said.

Gadet – Pentagon program manager, Oci Geoffrey, urged all the civil society groups to keep informing the public on how the Petroleum Act is useful and how the communities should be involved in any steps oil companies take during operations.