South Sudan moves closer to oil pipeline to the south
27 June 2013 Last updated at 11:29 GMT
South Sudan has moved closer to its target of gaining access to a pipeline
to export its oil to the south.
The presidents of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda have agreed to build two
pipelines across East Africa.
One would run from South Sudan to the Kenyan port city of Lamu and the other
would stretch from Rwanda to Mombasa.
Currently, South Sudan exports its oil through Sudan and supplies are often
disrupted as the two countries disagree over pricing and security issues.
The three-way agreement between the presidents was confirmed by Uganda's
foreign minister, Sam Kutesa.
Last week, Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir threatened again to stop
oil flows across its border with South Sudan, unless South Sudan stops
supporting rebels operating across the shared frontier.
South Sudan denies supporting rebels and, in turn, accuses Khartoum of
backing insurgents on its soil.
When South Sudan became independent nearly two years ago, it took 75% of the
oil reserves of Sudan.
However, Sudan retained the pipeline infrastructure, as well as the
refineries and export terminal at Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
East Africa is experiencing an energy boom at the moment, after oil and gas
discoveries in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
New railway
Mr Kutesa said the three countries had also agreed to build a railway line
from Kenya through Uganda to Rwanda.
"It was agreed to revamp the existing railway network and also construct a
standard gauge railway line in Kenya and Uganda and also extend it to
Rwanda," he said.
------------[ Sent via the dehai-wn mailing list by dehai.org]--------------
Received on Thu Jun 27 2013 - 17:58:52 EDT