Kenya: South Sudan-Kenya Oil Pipeline Boost for Growth, Says Lagu

THE pipeline to be built from South Sudan to the port of Lamu will play a pivotal economic role between the two countries, the South Sudan government has said.

Chief advisor to South Sudan government Joseph Lagu has said that he will advise President Salva Kiir Mayardit to get on with the construction of the pipeline as it will help reduce the constant wrangles with their northern neighbours. "We intend to use the pipeline to reduce the regular contacts at the port of Khartoum. In fact, Lamu will be near us and at the same time bilateral trade will flourish," said Lagu.

Speaking at a Mombasa hotel yesterday where he presented a paper on peace and conflict resolution for South Sudan diplomats undegoing an induction course there, Lagu said the pipeline is a key infrastructural development that will lead to economic growth in South Sudan. "Infrastructural development is key to the success of South Sudan. We encourage our like-minded neighbours to invest more in improving our infrastructure like what Kenya wants to do for Lamu," said Lagu.

He hinted that South Sudan may drop the planned construction of a pipeline to the port of Khartoum and instead concentrate on the Lamu one if the north does not honour the non-aggression pact signed recently in Addis Ababa. "We are scheduled to build two oil pipelines from South Sudan, one to port of Khartoum and the other to Lamu. If the northern brothers do not honour what is entailed in the pact, we may just drop it all," added Lagu.

He said this as the president is scheduled to lead a high powered government delegation to Lamu for a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the port of Lamu. The on-going training of South Sudan's diplomatic heads of mission has brought together about 35 diplomats for an induction course.