The Al-Jaili refinery in Sudan has suffered extensive damage due to ongoing conflict, leading to a reliance on costly fuel imports. After being captured by the RSF and later recaptured by the regular army, operations remain halted with significant infrastructure in ruins. Repair estimates are around $1.3 billion, and restoring operations could take up to three years amidst severe economic decline and currency devaluation.
The Al-Jaili refinery, Sudan’s largest oil facility located about 70 kilometers north of Khartoum, has suffered extensive damage due to ongoing conflict, forcing the country to rely on fuel imports. Captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shortly after fighting erupted in April 2023, the refinery demonstrated significant decline, with artillery exchanges leading to a complete operational shutdown by July 2023.
While the regular army recaptured the refinery in January 2024 as part of a broader offensive, operations remain stalled due to extensive wreckage. Storage tanks that once gleamed are now blackened, and the facility is littered with debris and leaks. Sirajuddin Muhammad, the refinery’s deputy director, stated, “Some units have been completely destroyed and are now out of service. Other sections need to be entirely replaced.”
Prior to the conflict, Al-Jaili processed approximately 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, fulfilling nearly half of Sudan’s fuel needs, including 50 percent of petrol, 40 percent of diesel, and 50 percent of cooking gas. However, its closure has forced the nation into costly fuel imports, exacerbated by a dwindling supply of hard currency as the ongoing conflict has displaced over 12 million citizens and gravely weakened the economy.
Currently, the Sudanese pound trades at approximately 2,400 to the dollar, drastically reducing the affordability of imported goods. The refinery experienced significant destruction during its recapture, with allegations of deliberate sabotage from both the RSF, accusing the army of using “barrel bombs,” and the army claiming the RSF sought to destroy vital infrastructure.
An inspection by AFP revealed extensive damage, with burnt vehicles along the access routes and gutted control rooms. Built in 2000 and 2006 at a cost of $2.7 billion, the refinery is largely owned by the Sudanese state with a 10% stake held by China. Repair estimates stand at a staggering $1.3 billion, and even if funding is secured, it may take three years to restore functionality, according to an anonymous engineer.
Sudan’s oil industry, which saw significant growth following the discovery of reserves in the 1970s and 1980s, faced another blow with the secession of South Sudan in 2011, taking most of the country’s oil output. While South Sudan relies on Sudanese pipelines for oil export, ongoing conflict jeopardizes this arrangement, particularly after the key export pipeline was damaged last year, halting exports until January.
In summary, the Al-Jaili refinery’s capture and subsequent devastation exemplify the severe impact of ongoing conflict on Sudan’s oil sector. With a staggering financial bill for repairs and a critical reliance on imports, the current situation poses significant economic challenges for Sudan, further exacerbated by currency devaluation and the displacement of millions.
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