Work Begins to Restart Oil Output at Heglig Oilfield
December 28, 2025 | Heglig
Efforts to resume oil production at the strategic Heglig oilfield are underway as the South Sudanese government pushes for operations to restart as soon as possible, oil engineers said on Sunday.
The move comes a week after tensions between South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the oilfield were contained following what officials described as a misunderstanding over responsibility for protecting the facility.
Troop Deployment to Secure the Oilfield
South Sudan deployed troops to Heglig on December 10 under an unprecedented tripartite agreement involving Sudan’s warring parties. The aim of the deployment was to secure the oilfield as fighting intensified across Sudan’s Kordofan region.
The deployment followed the RSF’s capture of the oilfield two days earlier, which forced units of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to retreat across the border into South Sudan, where they reportedly surrendered their weapons.
Oil production at the facility was shut down following the takeover, raising concerns over disruptions to a critical revenue source for both Sudan and South Sudan.
Tripartite Agreement to Neutralize the Facility
The agreement seeks to neutralize the Heglig oilfield from active combat, ensuring the safety of workers and safeguarding vital oil infrastructure amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
Heglig lies along the Sudan–South Sudan border and hosts key oil infrastructure, including production wells and a central processing facility.
The oilfield is also connected to the 1,600-kilometer pipeline that transports South Sudanese crude oil from the Unity oilfields to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
Engineers Return to Begin Preparations
Several Sudanese engineers told Radio Tamazuj that technical teams have already been redeployed to Heglig to begin preparations for restarting production.
“Some of us are already here in Heglig. We came from Juba, where we were on standby,” one engineer said on condition of anonymity. “A committee has been formed to work on the resumption of oil production.”
Security Situation Remains Delicate
Another engineer confirmed that the SSPDF has deployed a large number of troops to protect oil facilities and workers at the site.
However, he noted that the RSF has not fully withdrawn from the area and continues to maintain a presence at certain points within the oilfield.
“There have been requests from workers for the RSF to withdraw completely, but they refused,” he said. “Despite this, oil workers have already started preparations, and the security situation is generally calm.”
Power Station Restarted
A third engineer said that a power station at the facility was restarted on Saturday, marking a key initial step toward the resumption of oil production.
“We thank the forces providing protection at the oilfield and the engineers working hard to ensure oil production resumes for the benefit of both Sudan and South Sudan,” he said.
Revenue-Sharing Unclear
It remains unclear whether the tripartite agreement includes provisions for the RSF to receive any share of oil revenues from the Heglig oilfield.
Analysts say the question of revenue sharing could pose challenges to the long-term stability of operations at the facility.
Strategic Importance of Heglig
The Heglig oilfield is one of the most strategically important energy assets in the region. Disruptions to its operations have significant economic implications for both Sudan and South Sudan, which rely heavily on oil revenues.
The resumption of production could provide much-needed financial relief at a time when both countries face economic strain and political instability.
