Chinese firm Shengli Oilfield Keer Engineering and Construction Company (SOKEC) on Friday signed an agreement with South Sudan’s state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation (NILEPET) to construct modern oil refinery and storage facilities in South Sudan.

President of SOKEC Wu Song and Managing Director of NILEPET Muhammad Lino Benjamin signed a memorandum of understanding, which will see the Chinese firm immediately begin investing in South Sudan.

Benjamin hailed SOKEC for its contribution to the development of the world’s youngest nation.

“With this memorandum of understanding, we hope you will be able to translate it into agreements and projects that we will do together,” he said at a signing ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Wu said SOKEC “will start our preparation work as soon as possible on the refinery and storage facilities.”

A high-level delegation from the Chinese firm began a two-day visit Monday to oil fields in Tharjiath, Unity State, to see the facilities and assess the state of refinery operations.

Kuol Deng Maleith, director general of Midstream in NILEPET, said that the visit by representatives of the Chinese firm represents a significant step toward modernizing and expanding South Sudan’s oil industry. He emphasized the critical role of international investors in the continued development of the country’s oil sector and its broader economic growth.