Concerned over the deteriorating security situation in South Sudan, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) has decided to temporarily shut down operations at its oilfields in the conflict-ridden African country.

“Due to the adverse security situation, OVL, in co-ordination with the Indian Embassy in South Sudan, has evacuated all its 11 personnel posted in the country. Other partners of OVL in the assets have also evacuated most of their personnel,” the explorer said in a statement.

Following the shutdown, production from the oilfields was stopped from December 22.

OVL, the overseas arm of state-run ONGC, is operating in two producing assets in South Sudan – Greater Pioneer Operating Co (GPOC) and SUDD Petroleum Operating Co (SPOC) — with participating interest of 25 per cent and 24.125 per cent, respectively.

GPOC is producing close to 37,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), including the OVL share of 9,250 bopd from Block 1,2,4. SPOC is producing close to 4,600 bopd, wherein OVL shares 1,100 bopd from Block 5A.

In GPOC, OVL’s partners include China National Petroleum Corp, Malaysia’s Petronas and South Sudan’s Nile Petroleum Corp (Nilepet), while in SPOC, partnership includes Petronas and Nilepet.

OVL said it was closely monitoring the situation in that country and was in constant interaction with its partners and the Indian Embassy at Juba. Operations will be resumed once the situation is normalised.

The shutdown was executed methodically as per its standard shutdown procedure, ensuring safety of personnel, equipment and resumption of operation immediately after normalisation of the security situation.

siddhartha.s@thehindu.co.in

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