Expect the unexpected from Sudan and South Sudan
Stability in South Sudan could raise production much higher than was agreed with Opec
For a small-scale oil producer, South Sudan could do a lot of damage to Opec's efforts to curtail supply. Neither South Sudan nor its northern neighbour Sudan, is a member of the group-although before the former gained independence in 2011 the unified country applied to join. Now they get their chance, in spirit anyway. As part of the deal with Opec, Sudan agreed to a 4,000-barrels-a-day reduction and South Sudan to cut 8,000 b/d. Complicating the situation is the fractious relationship between the neighbours, and South Sudan's impoverished economy. It depends on oil-a source of revenue heavily reduced by factional ethnic violence, which has caused most production to be shut in, reducing exp
Also in this section
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
1 April 2026
The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries
31 March 2026
Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally
