Russia has written off $17 million in debt owed by Sudan and won the promise of access to Sudanese oil and gas resources for Russian companies after an intergovernmental commission meeting in Moscow, news agency RIA Novosti reported Friday.
Sudan has looked to Russia and China for investment after being shunned and sanctioned by the West over human rights violations in South Sudan, which broke free from Khartoum in 2011 after a long and bloody civil war.
RIA quoted Sudanese Minerals Minister Ahmed Mohammed Al-Karuri as saying that Russian companies were needed to process natural resources extracted in Sudan, a major oil producer.
"We extract unprocessed [natural resources] and need to earn added profit [from refining], which requires extra investment," the agency quoted him as saying.
"As for oil, we need to increase the effectiveness of our current drilling and explore for oil in new untapped regions," Al-Karuri said, adding that he expected a delegation from Russia's Gazprom to visit Sudan soon.
During the meeting, which was chaired by Al-Karuri and Russian Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi, the two countries agreed to write of $17 million in Sudanese debt, Al-Karuri said.
An earlier version of this article stated incorrectly that Sudan is a member of OPEC.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
