Sudan Awards Russia With Partnerships In Oil Investment, Exploration & Navy Base

The Sudanese Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has announced that 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 petroleum services. The parties also addressed possible partnerships with the Sudan National Petroleum Corporation (Sudapet) in oil sector investment, such as exploration and production.

Mohamed Awad Al-Khair, Sudan’s Acting Undersecretary of Energy and Oil, and Russian representatives also held technical and administrative discussions aimed at finalizing agreements on a number of other issues. They also concluded an agreement for the Russian Navy to operate from a base in Port Sudan, on the Red Sea. That will assist with regional security and to protect Russian shipping.

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 conflict in the African state.

Earlier this month, Khartoum’s ambassador to Moscow, Mohammed Sirraj, said thatSudan intends to strengthen ties with Russia and seek help in ending its internal conflict.

Sudanese Oil and Gas Minister Mohi-Eddin Naeem Mohamed Saeed had also previously 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 civil war conflict that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April 2023.

Last November, Sudan’s government also announced an agreement with Russian firm Power Machines to upgrade Sudan’s hydropower infrastructure.