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Monday, October 20, 2008      

Chinese oil officials abducted by Darfour rebels

CAIRO — Sudan's energy sector, controlled by China, has become a target of insurgents.

Western diplomats said insurgents have been attacking oil installations in southern Sudan. The diplomats said suspected suspected Darfour rebels were abducting Chinese oil personnel in the South Kordofan province.s.

"The assessment is that Darfour rebels were being helped by southern Sudanese operatives who oppose the Khartoum government," a diplomat said.

On Oct. 18, nine Chinese oil workers were abducted in South Kordofan in the latest attack on Sudan's energy sector, Middle East Newsline reported. The captives were identified as employees of Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Co., a consortium led by the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp., that India's ONGC, Malaysia's Petronas and Sudan's state-owned Sudapet.

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South Kordofan, which contains the disputed Abyei oil region, is located next to Darfour and rebels have accused China of helping Khartoum finance the war in the province. Diplomats said the captors have demanded a share of oil production, estimated at 500,000 barrels per day.

This marked the third attack on Chinese oil interests in Sudan in a year. In December 2007, Darfour fighters attacked a Chinese-operated oil field in Kordofan. In October of that year, the rebel Justice and Equality Movement abducted two foreign workers and three Sudanese from the Chinese-run Defra field. The men were later released.

Diplomats said China, who buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil exports, has played a major role in both Khartoum's energy and security sector. About 140 Chinese troops and engineers were deployed to maintain order in Darfour under a United Nations mandate.

Kordofan has been marred by attacks by rebels and discontented tribes, particularly the Messeria tribe. In May 2008, four Indian oil workers of Petro Energy Contracting Services and their driver were abducted in the province.

Diplomats said Messeria was believed to be responsible for the latest attack in South Kordofan.


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