7 Apr 2013

Oil production resumed in Sth Sudan

9:57 am on 7 April 2013

Oil production has restarted in South Sudan, more than a year after it was halted by disputes with Sudan.

The two countries, which formally split in 2011, agreed to resume transfers of oil across the border last month.

South Sudan declared its independence two years ago. It is landlocked and reliant on Sudan's ports for export.

The BBC reports both countries are heavily reliant on oil revenues.

Production was halted 14 months ago over a disagreement about how much South Sudan should pay to export its oil through pipelines in Sudan.

It is not clear how long a return to the normal output of 350,000 barrels per day will take.

The first oil is expected to reach Sudan's ports by the end of May, according to Sudan's state news agency, with output expected to reach 150,000 to 200,000 barrels per day.