(HEGLIG) – Oil production and exports through Sudan and South Sudan have been suspended after a drone strike on the Heglig Oil Field’s central processing facility, according to company statements and local sources.
The attack took place on Thursday and struck the main workshop and laboratory areas of the field. Petrolines for Crude Oil Co. Ltd (PETCO), which oversees operations in Heglig, confirmed that an unmanned aircraft fired three missiles at the site. The company said several oil workers were killed and noted that the facility had been shut down immediately as an emergency measure.
PETCO has declared force majeure, saying the attack created a situation in which it could no longer continue normal operations or meet contractual commitments.
Heglig remains an important point in the transport chain for crude from landlocked South Sudan. Oil from South Sudan is pumped north through pipelines across Sudan to Port Sudan on the Red Sea for export. Any disruption in this chain has immediate effects on both countries’ economies.
A Sudanese engineer working at the site spoke to Radio Tamazuj and confirmed the human toll of the incident. He said three colleagues were killed and most staff had evacuated after the strike, leaving a small team behind to watch the situation. He explained that the shutdown was carried out on the same day to prevent further danger to those who remained.
The knock on effects reached other parts of the shared oil network soon after. Two days later, the Bashayer Pipeline Company (BAPCO), which manages the main pipeline routes between the two countries, launched its own emergency shutdown. In a letter to the Dar Petroleum Operating Company (DPOC), BAPCO said attacks had also reached the Al Jabalain processing facility and its power plant. The company announced the activation of its Emergency Control Centre and ordered an immediate stop to operations to protect both BAPCO and DPOC sites.
Heglig Shutdown Threatens South Sudan Export Lifeline
| Facility / Company | Location | Role in Oil Network | Status After Attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heglig Oil Field (PETCO) | Sudan | Processing hub for South Sudan crude | Shut down, force majeure declared |
| Al Jabalain Facility (BAPCO) | Sudan | Processing and power supply for pipeline | Under attack, shutdown initiated |
| Bashayer Pipeline Network | Sudan / South Sudan | Moves crude to Port Sudan | Emergency stop launched |