JUBA, South Sudan, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The South Sudanese government reserves the option to make good on a threat to stop oil work if talks with Khartoum fall through, a spokesman said.
Sudanese Oil Minister Awad al-Jaz told state-run Sudan News Agency he was extending an Aug. 22 deadline to shut down crude oil pipelines through Sept. 6.
South Sudan gained access to most of the oil producing regions in the area when it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. Sudan, however, controls the export infrastructure.
Sudan said the extension would give negotiators time to settle outstanding national security concerns. South Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mawien Makol Arik told the Platts news service there was nothing final from Sudan.
"We haven't received a formal notification from Khartoum yet," he said Tuesday. "Unless there are changes, in terms of the ongoing negotiations with Khartoum, we'll follow the president's directive."
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said last month he'd stop pumping oil before the deadline as a defensive measure.
South Sudanese officials said they hoped for a breakthrough in the stalemate. Foreign Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said he was planning to visit Khartoum to continue talks on matters related to the oil sector.
