In Sudan, Finance minister, Badr al-Din Mahmoud (photo), on Wednesday said they will not reduce the fees being paid to them by Juba for the conveyance of South Sudanese oil through the northern pipelines.

"The transit fee for South Sudan oil is governed by an agreement signed in September 2013, so it will not be amended or renegotiated," Badr al-Din said.

The South Sudanese Government had on January 11, asked Khartoum to cut the fixed fee of $24.50 a barrel which was agreed under the September 2012 Cooperation Agreement signed in Addis Ababa, due to persisting decline in the prices of oil in the international market.

According to Radio Tamajuz news, Juba had threatened to shut down Khartoum’s only operational oilfield in Paloich if the cost of transporting crude through Khartoum is not reviewed to mirror the globally low oil prices.

Anita Fatunji