Khartoum: Talisman oil company denies dectruction of oil station by the rebels
Sudan, Politics, 10/3/2002

The Canadian oil Talisman company denied yesterday an announcement by the rebels of southern Sudan led by John Garang on destroying the largest oil pumping station in Hajliej oil fields in the southern part of Sudan, which they coupled with their effort to bring in the oil issue to the table of negotiations.

In a statement undersigned by John Garang issued in Nairobi, the rebels announced they had destroyed the oil pumping station which is run by the Canadian company on September 29 when one unit of their forces attacked the position which is situated 465 Km to the south of Khartoum.

The statement indicated that preliminary estimates indicate that the station was exposed to heavy losses and needs a long time before it can return back to full production capacity.

Garang threatened that the rebels are ready to launch new attacks to stop the oil exploration operations which caused "large humanitarians catastrophe for the people of southern Sudan and other margined area." For his part, the spokesman for the rebels, Yasser Araman, said in a telephone call from Asmara that a "special force belonging to the contingent positioned in Farliq was able to reach Hajleij oil field, the most important site for oil production ... and to destroy the main station for oil pumping." He added that this station feeds Khartoum by oil which means that oil supplies have stopped from Khartoum.

However, the Canadian Talisman company, which runs this project deliberately denied the rebels' statement and said it is "completely wrong and there was no attack and no clashes," according to the director of the company's office in Khartoum Ralph Kabling who stressed "oil production and drilling operations continue normally."

Previous Stories:
  Despite talks on resumption of negotiations, Sudanese rebels refuse cease- fire   (10/2/2002)
  Khartoum expects negotiations resumption with the rebels   (10/1/2002)
  Garang ready for temporary truce after resumption of negotiation   (9/28/2002)
  Sudanese forces restore back Madal town   (9/27/2002)
  Rebels accuse Khartoum of launching attacks on three fronts   (9/26/2002)
  Consultations on wealth sharing in Sudan   (8/22/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search