South Sudan is seeking to increase its crude production from approximately 174,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 230,000 bpd in the near term. To achieve this goal, the country is creating opportunities for local and international service companies across exploration, engineering, logistics, infrastructure development, and technical support. The country's petroleum development ambitions are supported by 14 exploration blocks available for investment.
The country's longer-term production target is 450,000 bpd, and expanding domestic supplier capacity and strengthening partnerships with international operators will be critical to supporting this goal. The upcoming South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) conference, scheduled for November 24-25, 2026, in Juba, will connect service providers, engineering contractors, technology leaders, legal advisors, and training institutions with project developers.
The SSOP 2026 conference will feature technical workshops, high-level panel discussions, and project showcases designed to translate market opportunities into tangible projects across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors. This event will provide a platform for companies to identify potential contracts, establish local and international partnerships, and position themselves for future work.
Recent bilateral and corporate milestones demonstrate South Sudan's commitment to combining international expertise with physical infrastructure development. In July 2026, the Ministry of Petroleum signed a memorandum of understanding with UAE-based Bianchi Gold Trading Investment Company, establishing a strategic framework for cooperation across exploration, midstream storage, refining, technical studies, and workforce capacity building.
The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) is advancing exploration preparations at Block B2 in Greater Jonglei State. Following an aerial geophysical survey covering approximately 47,000 km² in 2024, the company has pursued terrain reconnaissance services to support a planned 2D seismic campaign. These activities illustrate opportunities for geophysical specialists, surveying companies, logistics providers, and other technical contractors.
National oil company Nile Petroleum Corporation is pursuing a proposed 350-kilometre crude pipeline connecting the Tharjiath oilfields in Block 5A with the Paloch oilfields in Blocks 3 and 7, alongside refinery development and downstream expansion plans. If advanced, these projects would require engineering, construction, equipment supply, and operational support.
The government's Petroleum Act provides a framework for increasing domestic participation in the oil and gas industry, ensuring that oil and gas activities benefit local communities, while supporting domestic enterprises through employment, procurement, and equity partnerships. Local Content Regulations, put into effect in 2019, further strengthen these obligations, positioning local companies at the forefront of the country's oil and gas expansion.
Key points
- South Sudan aims to increase crude production to 230,000 bpd in the near term and 450,000 bpd in the long term.
- The country has 14 exploration blocks available for investment.
- The SSOP 2026 conference will connect service providers with project developers to support the country's petroleum development ambitions.
