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Sudan has shut down operations at the Heglig oil facility following a series of drone strikes it attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a letter sent by Khartoum to neighbouring South Sudan and seen by Reuters.
Located along Sudan’s southern border, Heglig hosts the main processing plant for South Sudanese oil — a resource that provides the bulk of Juba’s government revenues.
The war that broke out in 2023 between Sudan’s army and the RSF has already disrupted the flow of crude from South Sudan, which, before the conflict, shipped between 100,000 and 150,000 barrels per day through Sudan for export.
In the letter, Sudan’s energy ministry cited drone attacks on August 26 and 30 as the reason for halting operations. “Such unprovoked attacks represent a serious threat to the stability of oil flows from South Sudan and we cannot in good faith continue to man the operation there,” it stated.
The ministry said it had instructed Sudanese firms 2B OPCO and PETCO to evacuate the site, warning that PETCO would no longer be able to meet its lifting commitments.
“Their continued operation despite ongoing attacks by the RSF will render them inoperable in the long run,” the letter added.
Officials in South Sudan and representatives of the two companies were not immediately available for comment, while the RSF has yet to issue a response.
