By James Gatdet Dak

November 13, 2008 (JUBA) – The semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has formed a Juba-based Board of Directors for the Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nile-pet).

Nile-pet is a newly established oil company owned by the Government of Southern Sudan.

The appointment of the Board of Directors was decreed on Wednesday by the First Vice President of Sudan and GoSS President, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, with effect from November 4, 2008.

“This decree dissolves any existing Board of Directors and nullifies any previous appointments made in relation to the management of the Nile Petroleum Corporation,” the Decree reads.

The Board is mandated to properly manage the oil sector body “so that it can achieve maximum economic benefits for the people of Southern Sudan in the oil Sector.”

The Decree appoints the Minister of Energy and Mining, John Luk Jok, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, with membership of Kuol Athian Mawien, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Anthony Lino Makana, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Elijah Malok Aluong, Governor of the Bank of Southern Sudan, Dr. David Nailo Mayo, Chairman of Southern Sudan Reconstruction and Development Fund, Emmanuel Bol, Secretary General of Southern Sudan Investment Authority, Kuong Daniel Gatluak, Office of GoSS President, and Bol Wek Agoth, Office of GoSS President.

The Decree also states that each of the Oil Producing States in Southern Sudan shall have one representative in the Board. Any other person may also be co-opted by the Board.

Southern Sudan produces most of the Sudan’s oil which pumps half a million barrels per day.

Ninety seven per cent (97%) of its annual budget comes from its 50% share of oil revenue distributed in Khartoum by the Government of National Unity (GoNU) per the provisions of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the 21 years of war in January 2005.

The semi-autonomous region will decide in 2011 referendum vote to either confirm the present unity of Sudan as a country or opt to create an independent nation in its territory.

-SudanTribune