Written by: Salma El-Sakka
The Republic of South Sudan is preparing to strengthen its regional ties in the energy sector, as the participation of Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the South Sudan Oil and Power (SSOP) conference scheduled to be held in Juba on November 24 and 25, 2026.
Energy Integration and Regional Trade
This participation comes at a time when South Sudan is seeking to deepen its relationships in the fields of petroleum and infrastructure with its regional neighbors, linking the energy investment agenda to broader discussions on regional trade, market access, and economic integration. This orientation aims to integrate the energy sector into the continental trade framework, facilitating the movement of goods and services essential for the oil industry.
Infrastructure Challenges and Strategic Solutions
As a landlocked and oil-producing country, South Sudan relies heavily on pipelines through Sudan to transport crude to international markets, and relies on neighboring countries to provide import routes for petroleum products, equipment, and logistics. Recent disruptions in export infrastructure have exposed the commercial risks associated with this reliance, prompting the government to strengthen complementary regional supply routes, such as the framework established with Kenya to import petroleum products via the Port of Mombasa and the Northern Corridor.
Production Targets and Economic Growth
South Sudan aims to increase its oil production from about 170,000 barrels per day to 230,000 barrels per day in the short term, reaching 450,000 barrels per day in the long term. Achieving these targets requires massive investments in exploration activities, the development of mature fields, and the development of infrastructure and services necessary to support high production and connect projects to global markets.
South Sudan Oil and Power Conference 2026
The conference is being held in its seventh edition under the theme "Resource Renaissance - Energy-Driven Growth for a New Generation". The event seeks to connect governments, operators, investors, financiers, and service companies to transform energy investments into broad-based industrial and economic growth, building on a track record of facilitating major agreements in production and infrastructure cooperation with regional partners.
