Swedish Lundin Petroleum to start operations on Sudan block 5B
Swedish Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Petroleum) announced that a work program and budget for field operations on Block 5B, Sudan, in 2006 has been approved.
The program includes the acquisition of 1,100 line kilometers of 2D seismic data in the first half of 2006, building of necessary infrastructure to support drilling operations, and drilling of up to three exploration wells commencing late 2006.
At the end of November 2003, the Swedish oil company was accused by Human Rights Watch of fueling fighting in southern Sudan, but Lundin Petroleum AB, rejected the allegations and insisted its operations there had helped promote human rights.
The company sold most of its oil interests in Sudan to a Malaysian state-owned company in June 2003.
Lundin announced in a press release, a Community Development Program will also be carried out in the concession area focusing on providing clean water, education, basic health care and humanitarian aid to the local population.
Rights to the concession of Block 5B were awarded under an Exploration & Production Sharing Agreement signed on 2 May 2001, to a consortium composed of Petronas Carigali White Nile (5B) Ltd (39%), Lundin Petroleum AB (Lundin Block 5B BV) (24,5%), ONGC Videsh Ltd (23,5%) and Sudapet Ltd (13%).
The Block is operated by WNPOC, a joint operating company between PETRONAS and Sudapet on behalf of the consortium members.
Block 5B is located in the Muglad Basin and covers an area of 20,119 square kilometers. Muglad is the main oil-producing basin in Sudan and has seen the development of several large oilfields over the past few years. So far the consortium has been active in reprocessing and reinterpreting existing seismic data.
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, WNPOC has conducted scouting trips in to the Block in preparation for the 2006 seismic and drilling operations.
The consortium members are committed to exploring and exploiting oil resources in Block 5B, which is expected to be an important part of the oil industry in Sudan, in an efficient and responsible manner.
Ashley Heppenstall, President and CEO Lundin Petroleum comments: "I am very pleased that Lundin Petroleum is able to resume field operations in Block 5B. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the formation of the National Petroleum Commission has provided the necessary framework to explore the large potential natural resources in the area for the mutual benefit of all the people of Sudan".
(ST)
- Database Search
- Unpaid Debt A comprehensive overview of the role of the Lundin Consortium in the oil war. ECOS calls upon the Swedish, Austrian and Malaysian governments to investigate whether, as a matter of international law, Lundin, OMV and Petronas 'were complicit in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity by others during the period 1997-2003.’ In response, the Swedish Public Prosecutor for International crimes opened a criminal investigation into ‘links between Sweden and the reported crimes’.
- In Depth For more specific information about the Lundin court case please visit the Unpaid Debt dossier.
