Companies to be Investigated by South Sudan for its “Stolen Oil”

JUBA - The government in Juba Friday said it has taken a step to form a committee to investigate oil operating companies on “oil theft” by Khartoum.Government spokesperson Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said the government has issued legal notice to the countries that may risk purchasing the stolen oil. “As you know, when someone steals your property, there is usually a legal way to halt that process and what the government of South Sudan has done through its Justice Ministry is to issue an international legal notice saying its oil has been stolen and is now on the international market,” stated the minister to journalists after the Friday cabinet meeting. Juba on Thursday warned Chinese oil companies operating in the country that they could face the possibility of expulsion; if it is proven that they were complicit in “stealing” the country’s oil.The minister said that an investigation committee would be formed to investigate how these oil companies cooperated with Sudan to confiscate oil belonging to South Sudan.“These companies will face serious legal steps, once it’s proven through an investigation committee that these companies collaborated with Khartoum to confiscate oil,” warned Marial to the outcome of the investigation.South Sudan and Sudan in the latest round table talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa despite African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) pressure on the two countries to end their disputes did not reach any agreement on oil transit fees, border demarcation among others with talks rescheduled for 23rd of this month.  South Sudan after independence took three-quarters of Sudan’s oil production the lifeline of both countries’ economies but still needs to sell its crude through northern export facilities.   Juba last month resolved to fully shut down its oil output in a row with Sudan over export transit fees until the two agreed on a transit fee and accused Khartoum of its oil theft.  Early this week the SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum warned the World that anybody buying South Sudan crude oil that was stolen by Sudan risks paying South Sudan oil back.