Sudan: Rebel forces never got within 15 kilometres of the Heglig oil project after breaching the security perimeter
Financial Post, August 17
By Claudia Cattaneo
Talisman seeks tighter security at Sudan site
Talking to government: Rebels infiltrated oil project perimeter this month
CALGARY - Talisman Energy Inc. is talking to the government of Sudan about stepping up security at its Heglig oil project after a group of 10 to 20 rebels slipped inside its security perimeter before dawn on Aug. 5.
David Mann, a spokesman for the oil and gas company based in Calgary, said Talisman takes such threats "very, very seriously," and is reviewing security procedures, even though its own personnel in the field reported the group never got within 15 kilometres of the facility.
"We are not dismissing these -- it's a country at war -- and our priority has been and will continue to be the safety of the employees of the facilities," Mr. Mann said yesterday. "It's part of what we are talking about [with] the government of Sudan -- the number of people, where they are positioned, patrols, all of the routine things that form part of a security program."
Talisman has some security personnel at the field but most of the strategic area's protection is provided by government troops.
While the company has downplayed the incident, the Sudan People's Liberation Army has been talking it up. At first, the SPLA said a special commando unit damaged the headquarters of the oil project and destroyed some equipment. In subsequent reports, rebel leader John Garang was quoted as describing the attack as more forceful and involving 1,500 men and 150-pound rockets that damaged the field's electrical generating station.
"They basically slipped in under cover at nightfall and the view is they never even got closer to within 10 miles of the facilities," Mr. Mann said. "There was no damage done. Our guess is that from where they were at some point, they could probably from a distance see the lights of the facility, in the sky. But they never actually got close enough to even see the facility."
When alerted about the intrusion, Talisman's 20 staff at the field shut down operations and moved to an evacuation area, Mr. Mann said. They never left the site. Oil production was suspended as a precaution for 12 hours and is again flowing at the normal rate of 220,000 barrels a day, he said.
Talisman has a 25% interest in the oil project, Sudan's largest. The Heglig oilfield is one of the central facilities.
The rebels have vowed to launch further attacks on Sudan's oil installations, including a 1,500-kilometre pipeline and a tanker terminal at Port Sudan, which they regard as legitimate military targets.
The SPLA is fighting for autonomy for southern Sudan from the Islamic government in Khartoum. Critics of Sudan's government, which include Church and human rights organizations, say it is using oil revenue to build its military and persecute non-Muslims.
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