South Sudan squeezed on all sides as low oil prices persist

South Sudan has increased oil production to about 169,000 b/d from 160,000 b/d late last year, minister of petroleum and mining Stephen Dhieu Dau said on 27 January. The production figures do not tally exactly with export datas, but, with the advent of the dry season, there is an upward trend in sales from Port Sudan. According to the ministry’s latest crude lifting programme, 4.6m barrels were planned for lifting in January, equivalent to average production of 148,000 b/d, up from 142,000 b/d in December. A total of 4.8m barrels, or 171,000 b/d, is planned for lifting in February, and 4.95m barrels is planned for lifting in March, equivalent to 160,000 b/d.