Sudan’s Newly Appointed Ambassador to Japan Visits JCCP

On August 17, JCCP received a visit from Mr. Abdon Terkoc Matuet, Ambassador of Sudan, who was recently assigned to the Embassy of Sudan in Japan. Accompanied by Mr. Gaffar Somi, Counselor, the newly appointed ambassador enjoyed a pleasant chat with Mr.Masataka Sase, Executive Director, and Mr. Morihiro Yoshida, Managing Director, of JCCP.

Background

Newly appointed Ambassador of Sudan to Japan (second from left in front row)

　JCCP implements training courses and technical cooperation projects intended mainly for Middle East and Gulf countries, which supply 90% of the crude oil that Japan imports. In addition to these countries, however, JCCP is also focusing on cultivating new cooperative partnerships with countries that are expected to make a significant contribution to the diversification of energy sources and the expansion of independently developed oil fields in the future. Toward this end, a comprehensive technical cooperation survey was launched in FY2007, and survey visits were made to Sudan in FY2008 and 2009. Through these initiatives, JCCP opened relations with Sudan National Petroleum Corporation (SUDAPET), headquartered in northern Sudan, and with the Khartoum Refinery, and implemented seminars on environmental countermeasures, catalyst technology, and energy conservation technologies in Sudan in FY2009 to promote mutual exchanges of information. Since FY2008, more than ten Sudanese engineers have participated in JCCP regular courses, and in July 2010, Mr. Masataka Sase, Executive Director of JCCP, visited the country and held policy dialogues with the heads of state-run oil companies and top officials of Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
　When JCCP made its first official visit to Sudan in January 2009, JCCP members initially paid a call on the Sudanese Embassy in Japan to introduce and gain understanding of JCCP activities, and were able to realize the visit thanks to the strong cooperation and support of the embassy in contacting and making necessary adjustments with the Sudanese side. Since then, JCCP has maintained a relationship with the embassy, keeping it informed of any advancements in its relationship with relevant organizations in Sudan and obtaining its cooperation when needed. Based on this relationship, JCCP has received a number of important visiting dignitaries from Sudan, including the recent visit by the new ambassador.

Overview of Sudan

　Sudan has undergone a prolonged period of domestic confusion caused by ethnic and religious conflict, and has endured international isolation that continued for quite some time. However, after the United Nations lifted its sanctions against the country in 2001, Sudan focused its efforts on stabilizing its domestic situation and returning to the international community. The government signed a comprehensive peace agreement with South Sudan in 2005, a peace agreement with the Eastern Front in 2006, and created a unified government. Today, widespread attention is being directed to the independence referendum that Southern Sudan is scheduled to hold in January 2011 to decide whether or not it should gain independence from Sudan.

Inspection of the simulator facility at JCCP(Ambassador Matuet at far left)

Meeting with Mr. Masataka Sase

　Japan began importing crude oil from Sudan in 2001. In 2008, imports from the country reached 5.7 million kiloliters (2.1% share), and have boosted Sudan to become one of Japan’s important crude oil suppliers. Japan has not yet advanced into Sudan’s crude oil production sector, but other Asian countries such as China, Malaysia, and India have made investments that have significantly promoted oil field development and crude oil production in the country. Sudan experienced a rapid increase in production since 2000, so that it attained a production capacity of some 500,000 b/d in 2008. Sudan principally produces a blend of crude oil called Nile Blend, which is similar in property to Indonesia’s Minas crude. Japan imports Nile Blend for refining purposes and for burning as fuel by power companies.

Oil Industry in Sudan

　There are presently five refineries in Sudan with a combined refining capacity of 147,000 b/d. The Khartoum Refinery is by far the largest, with a capacity of 100,000 b/d, followed by the Port Sudan Refinery, with a capacity of 25,000 b/d. The others are simple refineries that have atmospheric distillation units only, and are the El Obeid Refinery (10,000 b/d), the Shajirah Refinery (10,000 b/d), and the Ghabra Refinery (2,000 b/d).
　The state-of-the-art Khartoum Refinery commenced operations in 2000 with a capacity of 50,000 b/d, but was later expanded to a capacity of 100,000 b/d in 2006. Sudanese Petroleum Corporation (SPC) and China International Sudan Refinery Ltd. (Chinese capital) each have a 50% share in it.
　To further develop the country’s oil industry and refineries, the Sudan is aggressively seeking the support of companies and institutions inside and outside the country, including JCCP, in developing Sudanese engineers and acquiring technical cooperation.

Ambassador Matuet’s Courtesy Call on JCCP

　In his interview with Mr. Sase and Mr. Yoshida, the new ambassador said that cooperation in the form of technologies and investment is strongly desired from technologically and economically advanced countries such as Japan, in order to place the country on the road to future development. The ambassador also explained that Sudan has rich oil reserves, and oil production has been increasing of late. With an abundance of other natural resources as well, there are ample business opportunities in Sudan for Japanese companies. Recognizing that the industriousness and diligence of the Japanese people have been one of the drivers of Japan’s development, he emphasized that personal and cultural exchanges between the two countries would greatly benefit Sudan.
　Mr. Sase made a reference to information he acquired in his talks with the president of SUDAPET held in Sudan this past July, regarding the company’s future plans to build a new refinery. He stated that if another refinery or other facility that requires specific technical support is constructed, it is certainly possible for JCCP to also expand its cooperation in the future.
　After meeting with the JCCP directors, the ambassador listened intently to descriptions of JCCP’s training and technical cooperation programs from relevant managers, inspected the process and instrumentation simulation facilities with interest, and once again expressed his strong expectations of JCCP’s support in hereafter training Sudanese engineers and improving technologies at its refineries. JCCP is presently advancing a plan for creating opportunities to visit and hold technical exchanges with SUDAPET and the Khartoum Refinery to solve issues that they face. It also intends to continue receiving Sudanese engineers to its regular courses in the effort to maintain and strengthen its relationship with Sudan that has just begun to take shape.

‹by Kazuhisa Okumura, Technical Cooperation Dept.›