2011

China has been awarded concessions by the Sudanese government to explore for oil in three “promising” areas in the country, possibly in Darfur. Also, eight Chinese companies are going to enter the country’s agriculture sector.

The Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi said that North and South Sudan "will lose the peace equation" by not cooperating on the joint and controversial issues.

The authorities in Port Sudan have allowed an oil shipment to leave for its destination after several days of delay over the non-payment of custom duties by South Sudan. It is unknown how much South Sudan had to pay so that Khartoum unblocks the shipment.

The Sudanese government confirmed that authorities in Port Sudan refused to allow an oil shipment to leave because of unpaid fees by the South.

Gulf Petroleum Investment Company (GPI) has expressed interest in conducting oil-wells drilling and exploration activities in Sudan. It is not clear yet where the Kuwaiti company’s exploration activities will take place.

Sudan says no understanding was reached on transit fees and renting pipelines for South Sudan's oil transportation.

Economic talks between Sudan and South Sudan appear to have fallen apart on July 30th, following disagreements over pipeline fees and economic issues centered around the recent unveiling of new currencies by both countries.

According to Pagan Amum, South Sudan’s chief negotiator, Khartoum withdrew from imposing a fee of $22.80/ barrel for transporting southern oil. Instead the South "will be paying transit fees that are within the international practices and standards".

The Government of Sudan demands charges of $22.08 as transit fee for the use of a pipeline for exporting the oil produced from South Sudan.

Salva Kiir threatened to stop using the pipelines running through Sudan if the latter insists on sharing oil revenue as opposed to receiving transit fees. He also addressed the issue of the disputed border region of Abyei stressing that it belongs to South Sudan.