South Sudan peace prospects raise hope of higher oil output

Eight months after the parties in South Sudan’s civil war signed a peace deal, the formation of a unity government is finally in prospect. If the new government can end the conflict, it opens up the possibility of an increase to oil production, which has dropped by almost 50% since fighting broke out in December 2013. But damage to the oilfield infrastructure, coupled with ongoing security concerns, mean it may take several months for any meaningful rise in output to take effect.