A government source reported that Chinese companies have begun withdrawing from Sudan's oil sector.

A prominent Sudanese government source stated that the withdrawal of Chinese companies from their partnership with the Sudanese government in the oil sector was due to the deteriorating security situation in production areas caused by attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The source indicated that the Chinese companies informed them of their readiness to return once stability is restored in the oil-producing regions. He emphasized that this withdrawal was not unexpected, especially since the existing partnership agreement was set to expire in 2027, noting that these companies had incurred significant financial losses during the period of conflict in Sudan. It is worth noting that Chinese companies operating in Sudan's oil sector recently expressed their desire to end their partnership with the Sudanese government. In another development, the RSF seized control of the Heglig oil field in West Kordofan State, South Sudan, on Monday morning. A military source from the Sudanese army stated that the withdrawal of armed forces from the Heglig field was a coordinated measure aimed at protecting oil installations from destruction. The military source added that the evacuation of civilian workers from the field was carried out safely, with all necessary measures taken to ensure the security of the oil facilities. According to media reports, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), representing the Chinese government, requested a formal meeting with the Sudanese government this month to discuss the early termination of the Production Sharing Agreement and the Crude Oil Pipeline Agreement for the Balila oil field, citing force majeure. In its official letter, CNPC explained that the deteriorating security situation necessitated the termination by the end of this month. The letter also emphasized that this decision should not affect future cooperation with the Sudanese Ministry of Energy and Petroleum once the armed conflict ends and the situation returns to normal.