(Ecofin Agency) - The South Sudanese Government plans to set up a new oil facility in the oil-rich Unity state before end of the year, Petroleum Minister, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth has revealed.

According to the Minister, ever since conflict broke out in the country in December 2013, South Sudan has only been producing 130,000 barrels of oil per day.

This new facility is to be controlled by the Dar Petroleum Operating Company which has been in charge of the production of oil in Palouch, since the signing of Sudan’s 2005 peace deal.

“The idea to establish a new facility aims to amplify daily production in the country,” Gatkuoth said.

He added that even though production was stopped because of the conflicts, oil workers in the region were safe ahead of plans to restart production in the Unity state.

Gatkuoth stated that the neighboring Sudan just agreed to help South Sudan and its oil companies in revamping damages caused by war so as to allow speedy resumption of production at its oil wells.

“For us to operationalize the resumption of oil there, we are actually thinking that by December, things are going to change in Unity state and resumption of oil production will restart in the area,” he said.

South Sudan is one of Africa’s top oil producers but the country still lacks an oil refinery, making transportation very expensive as earnings from oil account for 98% of South Sudan’s yearly budget, Sudan Tribune reports.

Anita Fatunji