BB Energy loads first South Sudan crude after legal dispute

Constructive engagement with South Sudanese authorities

A 600,000 barrel DAR Blend cargo was loaded onto the tanker Mardan from Bashair, near Port Sudan, on Saturday, according to Kpler data.

A spokesperson for BB Energy said the shipment was, "a significant and positive milestone following constructive engagement with the highest authorities at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Petroleum".

The spokesperson said the parties jointly developed a comprehensive repayment framework and cargo delivery schedule, adding that further meetings set to take place in Juba in the coming days to finalise an agreement for the remaining shipments.

BB Energy's Chief Executive Mohamed Bassatne said the aim was to conclude a comprehensive agreement covering the remaining deliveries as soon as possible and to restore, "the strong, mutually beneficial relationship that has characterised BB Energy’s engagement with South Sudan for many years".

(Reporting by Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru and Robert Harvey in London; editing by Barbara Lewis)