President Al-Bashir Launches Sudanese Oil Pipeline
Hejliej, Western Sudan, May 31 (SUNA)-- The Sudan today entered a new era of economic development by commencing the commercial production of oil.
President of the Republic Gen Omer Al-Bashir on Monday morning visited the production site and launched the crude pumping, signalling the actual operation of the 1,610-kms pipeline extending from Hejliej oil field in western Sudan to the export terminal of Bashair on the Red Sea coast.
Al-Bashir inaugurated the pipeline at the crude collection site, drawing oil from the different fields.
The pipeline would facilitate pumping of Sudanese crude to the export terminal, and supplying the El-Obeid and Khartoum refineries. In the past the crude was used to be conveyed by trucks from Hejliej to Mujlad, and by railways to the refinery in El-Obeid, since opening of the refinery in July 1996.
The launching of the pipeline was attended by a great number of constitutional, political and popular leadership, including National Assembly Speaker Dr Hassan Al-Turabi, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Jalal Ali Lutfi, Chief Justice Hafiz Al-Shiekh Al-Zaki, ex-Sudanese presidents Jaafer Nimeiri and Abdel-Rahman Swareddahab, along with federal ministers, state walis (governors), MPs and states' ministers and commissioners and members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Sudan.
The ceremony was also attended by a number of representatives from the companies working in the oil field.
A huge rally was organized on the occasion at the oil field site where masses of West Kordofan and Wohda (unity) states took part.
President Al-Bashir, Energy and Mining Minister Dr Awad Al-Jaz and director of the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company addressed the gathering.
The president, meanwhile, inaugurated Hejliej hospital shortly after arriving there. |
