(JUBA) – South Sudan has confirmed the full restoration of crude oil exports after recent drone attacks disrupted production at key processing facilities in Heglig and Al Jabalyn. The Ministry of Petroleum said oil is now flowing normally to the Marine Terminal on the Red Sea, easing concerns within the business community about prolonged revenue losses.
The country briefly suspended exports after an unmanned aerial vehicle struck the Heglig Central Processing Facility on 13 November at about 14:30. Three missiles hit the maintenance workshop and laboratory, causing the death of one staff member from 2B OPCO.
Following this incident, Petrolines for Crude Oil Co. Ltd informed Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC) of an immediate shutdown. By 15:00, 2B OPCO declared force majeure, leading to a full halt of operations including Pump Station One.
A second attack occurred on 15 November at the Al Jabalyn Central Processing Facility and its nearby power plant. Bashayer Pipeline Company alerted Dar Petroleum Operating Company and activated its Emergency Control Centre. All operations were put into emergency shutdown to protect staff and infrastructure.
The Ministry of Petroleum said it remains committed to protecting vital energy installations and ensuring that oil production, which forms a major part of South Sudan’s economy, remains stable and secure.
A joint technical team drawn from South Sudan and Sudan was deployed immediately after the incidents. Specialists from Dar Petroleum, Greater Pioneer, Sudd Petroleum, Bashayer Pipeline, Petrolines for Crude Oil and 2B OPCO carried out assessments and repairs. The Ministry said this cooperation helped restore operations faster than expected.
Operations began returning to normal on 16 November. The Heglig power plant and central processing facility were restarted successfully, and Pump Station One resumed operation at full capacity. Sudd Petroleum’s exports were not affected and continued at about two hundred and forty thousand cubic metres during the period.
All major oil fields, including Paloch, Unity and Tharjiath, are now operating normally. Wells in Paloch that were briefly suspended because of the Al Jabalyn attack have been brought back online by field teams from the Ministry of Petroleum and Dar Petroleum.
The Ministry emphasised that crude oil is again flowing at normal volumes through the pipeline network to Sudan’s Red Sea export terminal. It thanked all participating technical teams for their timely work, which prevented further economic disruption. With South Sudan depending heavily on crude oil revenue, business leaders have welcomed the quick resumption of export flows.
This restoration is expected to support government income, stabilise foreign exchange inflows and reassure commercial partners who rely on the country’s pipeline system.
Business Relief as Oil Exports Resume After Shutdown
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Incident Dates | 13 and 15 November 2025 |
| Affected Facilities | Heglig CPF, Al Jabalyn CPF and power plant |
| Cause | Drone attacks |
| Temporary Impact | Emergency shutdown, force majeure declared |
| Casualty | One staff member from 2B OPCO |
| Restoration Date | 16 November 2025 |
| Export Status | Fully resumed |
| Key Fields Normalised | Paloch, Unity, Tharjiath |
| Agencies Involved | MOP South Sudan, DPOC, GPOC, SPOC, BAPCO, PETCO, 2B OPCO |
Local Currency Note
No monetary figures were provided in the statement. For future reference:
USD 1 = SSP 7,100 (real market rate, November 2025).