صناعة النفط في السودان
عشية الاستفتاء
حقائق وتحليل

The report 'Sudan's Oil Industry on The Eve of the Referendum: Facts and Analysis' - English Version was first published in December 2010

Report on the 2-day conference 'Sudan's Oil Industry after the Referendum' held in Juba, December 2010.It contains recommendations with regards to the post-referendum arrangements, petroleum policy, company-community relations, compensation, transparency, security, land rights and the environment.

Persistent calls for clear and transparent information on Sudan’s oil revenues have yet to yield satisfactory information, says a new report published by Global Witness. With a referendum on independence for southern Sudan just days away, oil sector transparency is now more important than ever to preserving the fragile peace between north and south.

This paper contributes to discussions about the role of Sudan‘s $35 billion in external debt obligations – both for a unified Sudan and a possible Southern secession. It examines Sudan‘s existing debt dynamics and the potential eligibility for traditional debt relief and multilateral debt relief initiatives. It also provides an indicative roadmap for clearing Sudan‘s loan arrears of $30 billion and potentially securing comprehensive debt relief in the future.

Negotiations for Sudan’s future after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement started in earnest on 23 June 2010 with the signing of an MOU by the NCP and SPLM that lays down the modalities for resolving post-referendum issues and arrangements. This document identifies key issues affecting the petroleum industry that will emerge during the post-referendum negotiations. It points out the crucial factors and makes recommendations with a view to unleashing Sudan’s oil industry potential to contribute to peace and equitable development. It is meant to inform the wider public and discussions in the Working Group on Financial and Economic Issues & Natural Resources.

On 6 July, negotiations for post-referendum arrangements started in Khartoum. Finance play a key role in these negotiations. Sudan’s substantial oil industry is the dominant money-maker for the country’s two governments and to split it up will be an extremely complex and sensitive operation. The significant wealth that oil generates is equally important to both parties and if they agree on a mutually satisfactory formula, oil could be the foundation for a peaceful future. The time is now ripe to seize the opportunity to make the country’s natural resources benefit the people.
This report presents an overview of facts and trends in Sudan’s petroleum industry and highlights key challenges for the coming period.

China and India have also followed a necessary hedging strategy by establishing quasi-diplomatic relations with the Government of Southern Sudan in Juba. This marks a major shift in policy from dealing exclusively with the central government. However, this does not leave them invulnerable to present uncertainties revolving around Sudan’s potential split. Due to its economic role in Sudan, China in particular is in a unique position to promote a peaceful transition.
to promote a peaceful transition.

The purpose of this paper is to provide suggestions for ways in which a new, post-referendum oil deal between north and south Sudan could be made as transparent as possible in order to ensure that the deal is stable and that any tension and mistrust between the two sides is minimised. This document outlines the suggested transparency provisions, and the attached annex contains specific suggestions for the wording of these transparency provisions. Global Witness presents this document to the Parties in the hope that the experience we have gained from researching oil and transparency issues in Sudan and other countries, and from the pivotal role we have played in shaping the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), can be of some use in fostering a new oil deal in Sudan that promotes peace and the economic viability of north and south.

The purpose of this paper and annex is to provide suggestions for ways in which a new, post-referendum oil deal between north and south Sudan could be made as transparent as possible in order to ensure that the deal is stable and that any tension and mistrust between the two sides is minimised. This document outlines the suggested transparency provisions, and the attached annex contains specific suggestions for the wording of these transparency provisions. Global Witness presents this document to the Parties in the hope that the experience we have gained from researching oil and transparency issues in Sudan and other countries, and from the pivotal role we have played in shaping the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI),1 can be of some use in fostering a new oil deal in Sudan that promotes peace and the economic viability of north and south.

Presentation of Global Witness at a seminar in Khartoum on the importance of transparency in the oil sector.