Sudan Warns of Shutting Down South Sudan Oil Pipeline
Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Oil has notified the Government of South Sudan of a potential urgent decision to shut down the “Petco” oil pipeline—the main artery for exporting South Sudanese crude through Sudanese territory—due to ongoing military attacks targeting oil infrastructure.
This was stated in an official letter from Dr. Mohy El-Din Naeem Mohamed Said, Undersecretary of Sudan’s Ministry of Energy and Oil, addressed to Eng. Deng Lual Wol, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum in South Sudan. In the letter, Sudan held the Rapid Support Forces responsible for the attacks, noting their use of drones to strike critical oil facilities.
The letter emphasized that one of the most dangerous attacks occurred at dawn on May 9, 2025, targeting Pump Station No. 5 in the “Al-Hudi” area, causing severe damage that threatens to completely halt export operations.
The attacks have also targeted fuel depots, power stations, and critical logistics facilities, resulting in disruptions to supply chains and power outages at crude loading terminals in Port Sudan.
The undersecretary pointed out that these assaults have not only damaged production and transport facilities but also inflicted significant economic losses on both Sudan and South Sudan. They have further impacted foreign investors due to prolonged production halts and high restart costs.
In light of these developments, the ministry has issued urgent directives to “Petco” and “Babco” companies to prepare an emergency shutdown plan for the facilities, to be executed unless the attacks cease—attacks which threaten the safety of infrastructure and hinder Sudan’s obligations under joint cooperation agreements.
It is worth noting that the “Petco” pipeline plays a crucial role in exporting South Sudan’s oil, making its stability a strategic necessity for both nations amid growing security risks across the oil infrastructure network.
