South Sudan aims for 200,000 barrels of daily oil output by year end

South Sudan's petroleum ministry on May 6, 2019 signed a six-year oil exploration and production sharing agreement with South Africa. (Xinhua/Daniel Majak)

South Sudan, the world's most oil-dependent nation, says it has raised oil output by 6,000 barrels to 180,000 barrels per day. It seeks to bring daily output to 200,000 barrels by the year end.

JUBA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has boosted its oil production by 6,000 barrels, bringing the country's oil output to over 180,000 barrels per day, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.

Petroleum minister Awow Daniel Chuang, said the increase was realized following resumption of production at Block 1&2 in Manga Oilfield, which was closed six years ago due to insecurity in the northern parts of the country.

Chuang said the reopening of the Manga oilfields would boost the government's ambitious efforts to reach the 200,000 barrels mark by the end of 2019.

"This is significant in our production and if we are to translate this figure into money, it would be a significant improvement in our revenue," Chuang told state-owned radio South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Wednesday.

"I am sure up to the end of this year, we shall be able to increase the production to our previous level to develop other sectors," he added.

According to the World Bank, South Sudan is the most oil-dependent nation in the world, with oil accounting for around 60 percent of its gross domestic product.

But after the young nation descended into civil war in late 2013, oil production declined from 350,000 in 2011 to less than 130,000 barrels per day in 2014 amid soaring inflation.

Following the signing of a new peace deal in September 2018, conflict reduced and previously closed oilfields have reopened, and the landlocked country is hoping to raise daily output to over 200,000 barrels per day by the end of 2019.