By Kei Emmanuel Duku
South Sudan’s oil export is at risk after fortnight of resumption, as drone strikes hit Port Sudan facilities.
Spiraling drone attacks on Port Sudan has plunged Sudan’s vital coastal city into chaos, disrupting critical oil transportation systems and supporting facilities.
The attacks, which intensified in early May 2025, have targeted not only oil depots but also the city’s airport, power grid, and other essential infrastructure, raising fears of a complete economic downturn for South Sudan’s oil export routes.
According to a statement released over the weekend, Sudan’s Undersecretary of Energy and Petroleum, Dr. Mohieddien Naim Mohamed Saied said the drone attacks struck PETCO in Al Hudi in the early morning hours of Friday, causing grave damage to the fuel station.
“The drone attack… struck PETCO in Al Hudi in the early morning hours of Friday, causing grave damage to the fuel station,” Dr. Saied said.
Prior to the Friday attack, Dr. Saied noted that another drone attack targeted a major diesel depot in the White Nile State, used by BAPCO for its operations.
The Undersecretary stated in his letter that the ports and airports used by PETCO and BAPCO to import crucial materials for pipeline operations have also been affected.
He added that the attacks on oil facilities posed a significant threat to oil exports and exploration.
“The attacks on oil facilities occurred while the two oil companies were in the process of shipping critical materials, and last week’s attack posed a significant threat to oil exports and exploration,” the Undersecretary stated.
The attacks on Port Sudan represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, highlighting the vulnerability of Sudan’s infrastructure and the devastating consequences of the conflict for the region’s economy and stability.
The Undersecretary also noted the impact of the attacks on electricity substations, including the substation inside the BAPCO MT, which directly supplies power to the loading facilities. This has led to a power outage in both marine terminals, and affected their ability to load crude oil simultaneously.
Moreover, the attacks on fuel depots in Port Sudan and other storage facilities threaten critical fuel shortages, which are essential for operating transportation systems.
In response, the Sudanese government has directed both PETCO and BAPCO to deliver a fast-track roadmap to enable the government to shut down the facilities and their operations.
Dr. Saied stated that once the roadmap is delivered, the government plans to assess the extent of the attacks and damage to the oil facilities to determine if the situation jeopardizes the facilities and prevents the government from fulfilling its commitments under the “Agreement on Oil and Related Economic Matters (AOREM) with the government of South Sudan.
“Once the roadmap is delivered, the government plans to assess the extent of the attacks and damage to the oil facilities to determine if the situation jeopardizes the facilities and prevents the government from fulfilling its commitments under the ‘Agreement on Oil and Related Economic Matters (AOREM),'” Dr. Saied said.
He emphasized that the repeated attacks by the RSF on facilities in Sudan have taken a toll on both Sudan and South Sudan’s economies, resulting in substantial losses for both nations and foreign investors, including nearly eighteen months of deferred production and the costs associated with restarting both the oil fields and the transportation systems.
“The repeated attacks by the RSF on facilities in Sudan have taken a toll on both Sudan and South Sudan’s economies, resulting in substantial losses for both nations and foreign investors,” he emphasized.
Dr. Saeed stated that the recent wave of drone attacks launched by the RSF and its backers against civilian infrastructure has targeted oil facilities in Sudan, which are bound to have an impact on Sudan’s capability to complete export operations.
“The recent wave of drone attacks launched by the RSF and its backers against civilian infrastructure has targeted oil facilities in Sudan, which are bound to have an impact on Sudan’s capability to complete export operations,” said Dr. Saeed.
Despite the attacks, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum reiterated the Sudanese government’s commitment to the continued flow of crude oil from South Sudan, regardless of the ongoing security situation in Sudan.
He noted, however, that due to the deplorable security situation in Port Sudan, maintenance teams remain at the site, and the risk of a stoppage of export operations is very high, especially considering that the oil export line operated by PETCO’s PS#5 in Al Hudi is a functioning station crucial to export operations.
“Due to the deplorable security situation in Port Sudan, maintenance teams remain at the site, and the risk of a stoppage of export operations is very high,” he noted.
South Sudan resumed oil exports via Sudan on January 8, 2025, following repairs to the pipeline section and the lifting of a force majeure declared by the Sudanese government. Earlier this month, the government announced that its first shipment of crude oil had reached the market. However, these hopes were dashed last week by drone attacks on the major oil export facilities in Port Sudan, which primarily handle South Sudan’s crude oil.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023 and has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the destruction of property, and the displacement of an estimated 15 million people, according to UNHCR, The Refugee Agency.
The government of South Sudan has yet to respond to the extent of the damage caused by Friday’s drone attack on its major oil export facilities and infrastructure, while the RSF has not issued any statement of claims regarding the Sudanese government’s accusations.