Gulf Business: Sudan Says In Talks With Qatar Over Natural Gas Imports

Sudan is in talks with Qatar over natural gas imports and hopes to get shipments as early as next year to use in generating power, Sudan’s defence minister said Tuesday after visiting the gas-rich Gulf state to sign a military cooperation deal.

Sudan’s economy went into free fall after the secession of the oil-rich third of the country in 2011, taking most of the country’s petroleum output. Inflation currently hovers around 40 per cent.

Qatar, the world’s top natural gas exporter, has been known to strengthen ties with allies through “gift” cargoes of liquified natural gas (LNG). It helped Sudan’s neighbour, Egypt, during Islamist President Mohamed Mursi’s year in power by arranging a gas “swap” to ease crippling energy shortages there.
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