The Government of Sudan expects the Al-Rawat oilfield in White Nile State to commence the production of crude oil by 2017 after the drilling of test wells, the Minister of Oil and Gas revealed. Mohammed Zayed Awad (photo) declared this after his visit to block 25, accompanied by Al-Rawat company officials and representatives of the partners.

According to Awad, Block 25 has created a challenge for Sudan to prove its technical and administrative abilities in the production of crude oil.He added that the work comes within the context of the Ministry’s strategy to localize the oil industry with its different stages of production.

Situated about 60 km from Sudan’s oil export pipeline, the oilfield is run by Al-Rawat Company, an association of the government owned Sudapet with 70% interest, Express Petroleum & Gas Ltd Nigeria with 15 % and Minsana (an unidentified Nigerian company) with 15 percent, Radio Tamazuj reports.

Anita Fatunji