Monday, August 8, 2011

South Sudan says North drops demand for $22.80 per barrel in transit fees

KHARTOUM - The Sudanese government has dropped its initial demand for a charge of $22.8 per barrel to transport oil from landlocked South Sudan through the pipelines leading to Port Sudan, an official in Juba said on July 30.

Pagan Amum, South Sudan’s Peace minister and chief negotiator, briefed journalists in the capital Juba on July 30, shortly after returning from Addis Ababa.

Amum made the revelation upon his return from the Ethiopian capital where the African Union (AU) is hosting talks between Khartoum and Juba on post-secession arrangements, particularly economic issues.

"This discussion brought to an end the attempt to impose discriminatory surcharges by the government in Khartoum, who announced they would impose $22.8 per barrel transit fee,” he said. “They have withdrawn officially this position.”

"We will be paying pipeline fees ... and also we will be paying transit fees that are within the international practices and standards," Amum added, without saying how much the South was willing to pay.

No comments:

Post a Comment