NilePet in Talks with Russia’s Rosneft on Pipeline Project

(Saint Petersburg) – South Sudan’s national oil and gas company, Nile Petroleum Corporation (NilePet), is in the final stages of a major energy deal with Russia’s state owned oil giant, Rosneft, which could significantly expand the country’s oil infrastructure.

The news was announced on June 23 during the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), where both parties held follow-up discussions.

Kamal Mabok, a senior technical advisor at NilePet, confirmed in an exclusive interview that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NilePet and Rosneft had already been signed earlier in Juba. The two parties are now focused on addressing technical and logistical issues to finalize the deal.

According to Mabok, once the agreement is completed, Rosneft will play a central role in constructing new oil pipelines and refining facilities in South Sudan. This collaboration aims to improve the transport and processing of crude oil, a key export for the country.

Rosneft, headquartered in Moscow, is one of the largest integrated energy companies globally and is owned by the Russian government.

The company is involved in various sectors of the petroleum industry, including oil and gas exploration, extraction, production, refining, transport, and sales.

Its expansion into South Sudan signals a strategic partnership between Juba and Moscow, as well as a potential increase in Russian influence in the region’s energy sector.

South Sudan’s oil industry remains the backbone of the national economy, contributing over 90% of public revenue. However, the country lacks sufficient refinery capacity and relies heavily on neighboring countries for pipeline infrastructure.

The partnership with Rosneft is expected to reduce these external dependencies and enhance South Sudan’s ability to process and export its own oil.

While no specific financial figures have been disclosed so far, such a deal could potentially be worth trillions of South Sudanese Pounds.

The development follows a trend of South Sudan seeking to diversify its international partnerships in the oil and gas sector.

In recent years, the government has expressed interest in attracting new investors to rehabilitate aging infrastructure and boost national oil production, which has been hampered by years of conflict and technical setbacks.

The NilePet–Rosneft collaboration also comes at a time when South Sudan’s government is working to improve its fiscal management and reduce dependence on oil transit routes through Sudan, where political instability has disrupted the flow of crude exports.

If successful, the proposed projects could lead to the construction of new domestic refineries and internal pipeline networks, making South Sudan less vulnerable to regional disruptions and better positioned to serve both domestic energy needs and international markets.

Both sides appear optimistic as negotiations continue. “We’re almost there,” said Mabok. “Once we finalize the technical work, we can begin a new chapter in South Sudan’s oil journey.”

If completed, it would mark one of the most significant bilateral deals between South Sudan and Russia since the former gained independence in 2011.