Although the oil is being exploited by the government, most oil reserves lie in southern Sudan - in areas where the SPLA and other southern groups are fighting against the government in pursuance of demands for a more equitable share of economic and political power. The oil is transported north through a 1,600 km pipeline built with foreign hardware, including British pumping stations and engines. Khartoum has signalled its intentions by selling oil concessions across the entire south as far as the Ugandan border. These are the areas next in line for armed clearance. Under contract, oil revenues are shared between the companies and the Sudanese national oil company, Sudapet.
Military protection is also part of the partnership.
As in many conflict-ridden countries, the oil companies are themselves targets. The companies require protection so that they may operate unhindered and so their staff are secure. But the relationship between oil and security has moved far beyond simple defence. TotalFinaElf's 120,000 km2 concession near the town of Bor cannot be exploited unless the area is controlled by the northern government. There is nothing to suggest that the government will not practice its scorched earth policy here, too.