Laying the Foundation Stone for Africa’s Largest Oil and Derivatives Reference Laboratory

Minister of Energy and Oil Dr. Mahy El-Din Naim announced that, as part of efforts to implement the state’s policy to ensure quality control, inspection, and auditing of petroleum products according to global standards, and to regulate fuel usage, the government has commenced the construction of a reference laboratory in Port Sudan. This announcement was made during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the oil and derivatives laboratories at the ministry’s facilities in Port Sudan. The laboratory, which will be the largest of its kind in Africa, aims to test crude oil and all petroleum derivatives in accordance with global quality standards.

The minister praised the initiative, highlighting its significance for the oil sector and Sudan as a whole, as well as its service provision to the region, especially landlocked countries. He confirmed that the laboratory would offer testing services for petroleum and derivatives, previously conducted outside the country and domestically in Khartoum and the Port Sudan refinery. He assured the Sudanese people that the project would be completed on time.

Dr. Waleed Saleh Ibrahim, head of the crude oil and fuel division at the General Administration of Laboratories, Research, and Oil Studies, stated that the laboratory is designed with high capabilities to ensure the quality control of crude oil and all petroleum derivatives, including jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, furnace oil, cooking gas, lubricants, grease, water, measurement, and calibration. He explained that each product has a global standard, and the building is designed to international specifications with equipment for all mentioned derivatives. He noted that the lab considers environmental safety measures and aims to employ young graduates alongside experienced professionals from other labs.