South Sudan Sees Increased Investment After Splitting Oil Block

South Sudan expects to attract more foreign investment into the newly independent country through its break up of an oil concession the size of Rwanda, the government’s spokesman said.

Block B, which covers most of South Sudan’s eastern Jonglei state, was split into three blocks after Total SA’s ownership was invalidated because it was signed with Sudan before the south gained independence, Barnaba Marial Benjamin said in an interview on Sept. 26 in the capital, Juba. Total, based in Paris, previously held 32.5 percent of the block and will be allowed to choose one of the new concessions, he said.