Sudanese Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohamed Zayed Awad (photo), has disclosed that Sudan's incomes from South Sudan's oil transit fees in Q1 of 2016 reached $160.4 million.

South Sudan has continually demanded that Sudan’s government lessen the oil transit fees as a result of the decline in the prices of oil globally as well as the drop in its output to about 160,000 bpd caused by the civil war began in December 2013.The oil agreement which was signed between Sudan and South Sudan in September 2012, specifies that the latter will pay $3 billion as aid to Sudan for three years. Aside that, South Sudan's government would also pay close to $20 per barrel as oil transit fees.

Prior to the signing of the deal, Sudan came up with the idea of allocating a share of South Sudan's oil as transit fees rather than stating an amount but South Sudan dismissed the suggestions and had insisted on determining an amount, Xinhuanet reports.

Anita Fatunji