By Madrama James
King News, Sept 24th, 2024. Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) Calls on the Ministry of Petroleum to Facilitate the Immediate Release of the Environmental Audit Report to allow the government to allot responsibilities for environmental pollution.
In a written statement shared today, Deneki Saniki and signed by Charles Judo Chairman, Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources (CSCNR) Juba, South Sudan.
The coalition calls on the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) to enforce the law against PETRONAS for violating the South Sudan Petroleum Act 2012, internationally acceptable standards, and corporate social responsibility principles.
According to the press statement, CSCNR “accused the Malaysian energy company of environmental pollution in accordance with the provision of Section 59 and 100 (8) of the South Sudan Petroleum Act 2012.”
The coalition further call R-TGoNU, to “withhold the rights to the divestment of PETRONAS’ participating interest in Joint Operating Agreement and Exploration and Production Sharing Agreements until the release of the Environmental Audit Report.”
On August 7th, 2024, the PETRONAS subsidiary, PETRONAS Carigali Nile Limited (PCNL), immediately withdrew all operations in the Republic of South Sudan.
To complete their exit, “PETRONAS Consequently asked South Sudan’s national Oil and Gas company Nilepet and other International Oil companies to discretion acquire its participating interests in the Joint Operating, Exploration and Production Sharing Agreements governing oil production in South Sudan.”
Therefore, CSCNR appeals to the “International Oil and Gas companies to shun any dealing with PETRONAS in regards to its participating interest in South Sudan as accused assets are subject to scrutiny for its roles in environmental pollution and its related impact on humans and biodiversity.”
Over the years, the Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resources, community leaders, and other national and international NGOs operating in Unity and Upper Nile states have reported incidences of children being born with deformities in oil-producing areas, potentially as a result of oil pollution.
PETRONAS is one of the biggest shareholders in the South Sudan oil sector accounting for 40% shares, and is liable for 40% responsibility of any environmental and social harm that it caused or contributed to over decades of their operation in the South Sudan oil sector.
In 2021, former Lundin Executives Ian Lundin and Alex Schneiter were indicted for complicity in war crimes when managing the Consortium in Block 5A in Unity State between 1997 and 2003.
In May 2024, at the request of the Austrian Center for Enforcement of Human Rights International (CEHRI), the Austrian Prosecutor opened a criminal investigation into OMV officials who worked with the Lundin Consortium for complicity in war crimes.
PETRONAS is lingering with relish and unscathed due to a lack of jurisdiction and interest by other actors to make the company account for its role in war crimes that have brought tremendous suffering to the South Sudanese people.