South Sudan Oil Production Halted after Drone Attack on Key Facility

Oil production and exports have been suspended in parts of Sudan and South Sudan following a drone strike on a critical oil field in Sudan, according to company statements and a local source. The attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the Heglig Oil Field’s central processing facility on Thursday, killing a number of oil workers and prompting emergency shutdowns. Petrolines for Crude Oil Co. Ltd (PETCO) confirmed the attack in a formal notice, stating an “Unmanned Aircraft UAV Drone” launched three missiles at the facility’s maintenance workshop and laboratory. The company declared force majeure, a clause used when extraordinary events prevent a company from fulfilling its contracts. The Heglig facility is a key transit hub for oil pumped from landlocked South Sudan, which relies on pipelines through Sudan to export its crude via Port Sudan on the Red Sea. (Radio Tamazuj)