Rapid restoration after drone strikes
South Sudan’s oil industry has bounced back within days of twin drone strikes on Sudanese processing hubs, with crude exports now flowing normally toward the Red Sea, the Ministry of Petroleum confirmed in Juba on Wednesday.
Details of the November attacks
Unmanned aircraft first hit the Heglig Central Processing Facility on 13 November, firing three missiles that damaged a workshop and laboratory and claimed one worker’s life, prompting an immediate shutdown at Pump Station 1.
A second strike on 15 November disabled Al Jabalain’s processing plant and power unit, compelling operators to halt flows as a protective measure while emergency control centres in Khartoum and Juba coordinated responses.
Technical team’s round-the-clock repairs
Engineers from both countries, joined by specialists from BAPCO, PETCO and 2B OPCO, reached the sites within hours, assessing damage and sourcing spare parts despite ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Undersecretary Deng Lual Wol said the team worked “as one technical force,” restoring power and reactivating core units by 16 November, which allowed Sudd Petroleum Operating Company to restart exports earlier this week.
Production levels and economic stakes
Dar Petroleum is now pumping about 97,000 barrels per day and intends to approach its pre-attack target of 150,000, while Greater Pioneer and Sudd Petroleum move toward 50,000 and 15,000 respectively, according to ministry data.
With oil accounting for more than 90 percent of government revenue, Juba views the swift recovery as crucial for salaries and public spending after months of budget pressure linked to regional volatility.
Ongoing security coordination
Wol acknowledged lingering risks, noting that leaders in Juba and Khartoum are in contact with regional partners to deter further strikes on pipeline infrastructure that sits largely inside Sudanese territory.
He argued that safeguarding the export corridor benefits both nations, adding that South Sudan’s landlocked status gives it “the right to access seaports under international law.”