Sudan Enters Natgas Arena
KHARTOUM, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Sudan, which became a crude oil exporter last year, has begun exporting natural gas, the official Sudan News Agency SUNA reported.
It quoted Hassan Ali al-Tom, undersecretary at the Ministry of Energy and Mining, as saying the first consignment of 2,600 tonnes left Port Sudan, the country's main sea outlet for the international market, on Friday.
It was bought by Trafigura, the official marketer for Sudan's crude oil. Three companies, the Nile company, Aman Gas and Gabaco (formerly Agip), would be involved in exporting gas from the Khartoum oil refinery, which produces 550 tonnes of gas a day - 120 tonnes of which will be consumed locally - SUNA said.
The government almost halved gas prices in July. Sudan, now producing about 185,000 bpd of crude oil, began crude exports in August 1999 from Port Bashair, south of Port Sudan. It had been importing oil and oil products to the tune of $300 million a year, eating up most of its export earnings.
Sudan, whose economy has been battered by a 17-year civil war, began exporting gasoline from Port Sudan in June, producing 2,300 tonnes a day and shipping 40,000 tonnes a month. |
