24 October 2013, Juba – During the visit of President Al-Bashir to Juba on Tuesday, a meeting of the Joint Committee of the Ministries of Oil was also held in Juba.
The Ministers of Oil for the Sudan and for South Sudan agreed that oil was one of the bases for development, stability and security between the two states and stressed the necessity for strengthening economic relations between their two countries.
Sudan’s Minister of Oil, Dr. Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, said in a press statement that the Joint Committee had directed the Undersecretaries of the Ministries of Oil in the two countries to work out a work program in accordance with the agreement signed between the two sides,.
He said President Al-Bashir’s visit gave positive indications to advance the economies of both countries. He said enhancement of relations was for their mutual interest.
Dr. Al-Jaz who said Sudan can buy South Sudan oil and Juba can take advantage of Sudan’s refining capabilities, stressed the importance of opening border crossings for movement of oil. He also suggested South Sudan needs to upgrade its oil output, noting that Sudan was the closest and least expensive place for refining and exporting South Sudan’s oil.
The Oil Minister of South Sudan State, Stephen Deo Dow, described the outcome of the meeting as positive, fruitful and constructive, pointing out that there are no major problems in the field of oil flow. He said the joint meetings were aimed to achieve cooperation, of strengthening ties between the two ministries and at ensuring a continuous flow of oil through the Sudanese refineries.