Pipeline damage more symbolic than physical

The damage inflicted on Sudan’s oil pipeline in a rebel attack in the Bramio area, 30 km north of Sinkat town in Red Sea State, on 1 May was limited in scope, has since been repaired and did not affect the country’s exports because it had enough fuel in stock at the Basha’ir Port to meet requirements, the official SUNA news agency quoted Energy and Mining Minister Mohamed Ali al-Tawn as saying. Even if the physical impact of the bombing was limited, the fact that the rebels had struck successfully for the third time at such a huge and prestigious project pointed to the ease with which they operated in the Sinkat area and would boost their morale, a former foreign affairs official, Lt-Gen Sirr Mohamed Ahmad, was quoted as saying on Sudanese television. Nonetheless, the oil companies involved had calculated for such losses and were unlikely to be forced into reconsidering their investment, Ahmad added.