By Bida Elly David
The ministry of petroleum has distanced itself from allegations of mismanagement of the country’s oil money noting that the ministry of finance is responsible and should be questioned over the financial management of all remittance from the oil proceeds for the provision of basic services including road construction and security.
Speaking during a three days economic reform forum recently, petroleum minister, Puot Kang Chol warned citizens against blaming his docket for misuse of the oil money.
He stated that their task as a ministry of Petroleum is only to ensure excess production of crude oil to meet the international market for the public to fully benefit from the outcome.
“You have seen the highways; somebody will ask me what the contract looks like. That is not my responsibility since I don’t sign the contracts of the roads but I make sure we produce oil and the money goes to the finance and finance ministry pays roads,” he said.
Mr Puot said that despite not managing the financial resources generated from the sale of the oil, they always work hard towards making sure that the infrastructural sector, health, education and food security and livelihood are improved.
“As long as we produce, the minister of roads and bridges will be happy because his contractors will be paid, and the minister of finance will be happy. The funny part in South Sudan is that business people will hear better than me that the oil money has come,” he added.
The Petroleum minister urged the government especially the ministry of finance to ensure that the oil money and the oil itself are properly used to benefit every citizen who fully belongs to the Country regardless of gender, tribe and religion.
He added that if the Country wants to prioritize infrastructure and other sectors, there is a need to use the current oil in an equitable manner and look at other parameters that will take the lead in case the oil becomes less important to improve the economy.
Moreover, Mr Puot said that the ministry of petroleum has purchased three planes for the destruction of pesticides in the oil field as well as for commercialization which interested companies would hire at an affordable price.
The minister echoed that the three planes are currently operational at the oil fields and are based at the airport for anybody who would feel like using them for operationalization.
Mr Puot however said that citizens should abstain from focusing much on oil money and rather than work on improving the agricultural sector as the major sector for food security for all.
“What is sustainable for South Sudan for sure is agriculture because the land is not affected unless we environmentally abuse it and if we protect it, it will not be affected. Therefore we have the responsibility of shifting to that,” he added.
Significantly, minister Puot also said, mining is another sector that would transform the recessed economy of South Sudan into a well microeconomic status.
“Number two is mining. In Africa, South Sudan is considered to be the Second after Congo in terms of minerals. What we need to know is that some of the minerals are what we use for transitioning into clean energy,” he continued.
The Petroleum minister cautioned the government not to put oil as the first priority to support the national economy but rather thinks of transforming other sectors for the future.
He finally underscored that the ministry of petroleum will stand alert towards improving production for the sake of the Country’s economy.