South Sudan trades oil for infrastructure

According to the South China Morning Post, South Sudan's government will provide 30,000 barrels of crude per day to the Export-Import Bank of China in order to fund infrastructure development in the country.The provision of oil will increase up from the 10,000 barrels agreed in February, according to information minister Michael Makuei Lueth.

The country is currently produces about 170,000 barrels per day.

“We have adopted the policy of oil for development,” Lueth said. “The cabinet approved an additional 20,000 drums to make it 30,000 drums per day to be deposited in an account in China for infrastructure, especially for the roads and other development.”

Projects include a 392km (244-mile) road from Juba to Rumbek in the central region, and it is believed work will begin in mid-April. Other routes are planned from the south to the Bahr el-Ghazal region and from Juba to Nadapal on the Kenyan border.

Construction will be undertaken by China’s Shandong Hi-speed according to Lueth.