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Sudan war triggers stoppages on South Sudan oil pipeline, authorities state

The primary pipeline carrying oil from South Sudan through Sudan for export has been suffering blockages because last month due to problems linked to the war between Sudan's army and the Fast Support Forces (RSF),. according to 3 Sudanese authorities.

A March 16 letter from Sudan's minister of petroleum, seen. , stated force majeure on deliveries of oil through. the pipeline to a terminal near Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast.

The letter said gelling had limited circulations on Feb. 10, and. that after this was cleared a major rupture occurred at another. point in the pipeline.

The letter said both occurrences took place in areas impacted by. combating, which interactions had actually been hindered by network. interruptions that spread out throughout Sudan in recent weeks.

The quantity of oil impacted and resulting loss of earnings. from the stoppage were not instantly clear.

South Sudan had been sending out about 150,000 barrels daily. of crude through Sudan for export, under a formula developed. when South Sudan got independence from Khartoum in 2011,. taking most oil production with it.

The exports are an important source of revenue for South. Sudan, and Sudan takes a cut of the oil as a transit fee.

The main Sudanese sources, who spoke on condition of. anonymity and are lined up with the army, blamed the RSF for the. interruption, saying it occurred in RSF-controlled territory.

An RSF media official rejected that the force was accountable. and said that it respected the agreement for oil exports in between. Sudan and South Sudan.

The letter from Sudan's petroleum minister stated resolution. of the gelling problems required pumping and warming stations to. be totally functional and for adequate products of diesel, concerns. that were challenged by the current war conditions in Sudan.

The ministry of petroleum in Juba, the capital of South. Sudan, did not respond to requests for remark.

The Petrodar pipeline, set up by a consortium including. China's CNPC and Sinopec in addition to Malaysia's Petronas, runs. more than 1,500 km (932 miles) from the Melut Basin in South. Sudan's Upper Nile state to Port Sudan on Sudan's Red Sea coast.

Another pipeline carries oil from South Sudan's Unity State. to Port Sudan.

(source: Reuters)