Dr Santino Ayuel Longar, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum. — Courtesy photo.

The Ministry of Petroleum says plans are underway to construct two new oil refineries in Unity and Upper Nile states to increase local fuel production and reduce reliance on imported fuel.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, Dr Santino Ayuel Longar, says the refineries will be constructed by Superior Process Engineering Company, or SPEC, with a combined capacity of 60,000 barrels per day.

“Superior Process Engineering Company (SPEC) is planning to build a refinery in Tharjiath, Koch County, Unity state. They have significant number of resources available to start the project. I think they are coming this week. They want to start with 30,000 barrels a day and then move on to another 30,000,” he said in an exclusive interview with Eye Radio.

Dr Ayuel said the project will be implemented in two phases.

He said the refineries are expected to supply local fuel retailers and help reduce fuel prices across the country.

The sites identified for the projects include Tharjiath in Unity State, Thiangrial in the Melut area of Upper Nile State, and Pagak near the Ethiopian border.

“If this refinery can be built. That means we’ll not be importing refined fuel products to South Sudan. We’ll be using our own refineries to supply fuel to various retailers across the country, which will significantly lower the fuel prices in the country. So, the plan is to build the refinery in Tharjiath, and Thiangrial in Melut area, and in Pagak near the Ethiopian border,” he said.

Dr Ayuel said the SPEC managing director is expected to arrive this week or next week with resources to begin work on the 60,000-barrel refinery.

He said land has already been allocated in Tharjiath, where staff are working with a local company, the South Sudan Refineries and Petrochemicals Company, or REPCO.

“The Managing Director (MD) of Superior Process Engineering Company (SPEC)spec is coming this week or later next week. They have already allocated the land in Tharjiath. They have staff on the ground because they are working in liaison with our local company called “REPCO” (The South Sudan Refineries and Petrochemicals Company” and they are working together,” he said.

South Sudan relies heavily on imported refined petroleum products because the country has limited large-scale refining capacity.