African state signs oil exploration deal with Russia

The partnership with two Russian corporations comes as Sudan seeks deeper ties with Moscow

Two Russian companies, including state-owned Zarubezhneft and Al-Rassi International Services (LLC), have signed a memorandum of understanding with Sudan’s Bashayer Petroleum Pipelines Company (BAPCO) to cooperate in the field of petroleum services.

High-ranking representatives of the firms concluded an agreement in Port Sudan, the capital of Red Sea State, the Sudanese Ministry of Energy and Petroleum announced on Saturday. A delegation from the Russian embassy in Sudan also attended the ceremony, the ministry stated.

According to the statement, acting undersecretary of energy and oil, Mohamed Awad Al-Khair, and the companies’ representatives also held technical and administrative discussions aimed at finalizing agreements on a number of other issues.

READ MORE: Sudan to cooperate with Russia on oil exploration – media

The parties also addressed possible partnerships with the Sudan National Petroleum Corporation (Sudapet) in oil sector investment, such as exploration and production, the ministry said.

Sudan has sought Russian investment in an array of sectors in recent years, including gold mining and the oil industry, but efforts have reportedly been hampered by an ongoing war in the African state.

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Earlier this month, Khartoum’s ambassador to Moscow, Mohammed Sirraj, reportedly said the northeastern African country intends to strengthen ties with Russia and seek its help in ending its civil war.

Late last year, Sudanese Oil and Gas Minister Mohi-Eddin Naeem Mohamed Saeed stated that Sudan plans to sign industrial, commercial, and oil-related agreements with Russian companies.

The deals are said to involve exploration of more than 20 oil wells in regions considered safe from the deadly conflict that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.

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Earlier in November, the northeastern African nation’s government also announced an agreement with Russian firm Power Machines to upgrade Sudan’s hydropower infrastructure.

On Saturday, the Sudanese Energy Ministry said a group of Russian companies had arrived in the country a week ago and have held talks with senior government officials to explore investment opportunities.