South Sudan: South Sudan Integrates Environmental Protection with Hydrocarbon Exploration

Feb 24, 2021 | Charné Hundermark, Africa Oil & Power
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Despite holding the third-largest oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa – estimated at 3.5 billion barrels – only 30% of South Sudan has been explored to date, leaving the country as one of the final frontier markets. With hydrocarbon-focused legislation, a landmark peace deal signed in 2018 and a reformed investment climate, South Sudan is actively enabling the resumption of exploration and production activities across the country. In a bid to reduce pollution and align itself with a growing environmental agenda, the country has launched a tender for a comprehensive environmental audit of all its oil-producing fields. As South Sudan aims to balance socioeconomic development needs with environmental concerns, the audit proves particularly valuable for facilitating economic regrowth through the hydrocarbon industry.