Russia to Explore for Gas Offshore Sudan

Sudan and Russia July 24 signed an agreement for natural gas exploration in the waters of Red Sea, Sudan News Agency reported the same day.

The agreement was signed by Sudan’s undersecretary of the ministry of oil and gas Bakheet Ahmed Abdalla, and Sergey Panov, chairman of the Russian state-owned exploration services company Rosgeologia. Sudan's minister of oil and gas Azhari Abdul-Gadir met the Russian minister of minerals and natural resources Dimitri Kobylkin and said that his country is ready for Russian investment in its oil and gas sector.

According to Russia’s RIA Novosti the two parties discussed the establishment of metallogenic maps of the country, as well as exploration and development of Block 15 in Red Sea. Last year, Rosgeologia and the government of Sudan had signed a framework agreement on the exploration and subsequent development of Block 15.

Sudan is an oil exporter, thanks to Chinese investment, but - in contrast with its northern neighbour Egypt - has yet to produce gas in any significant volume. There would however be a ready market from power generation, as most of Sudan's electricity is generated from old pollutive oil-fired power plants.