Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation

Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation
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Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation

Sudan National Carrier Receives Airbus Program for Rehabilitation

The Sudanese government announced on Saturday receiving a rehabilitation and operations plan from the European aeronautics company, Airbus, to serve its national carrier Sudan Airways for the upcoming 10 years.

The initiative was inked at a meeting held in Dubai and with each of the Sudanese Transport Minister representatives of the French company.

Transport Minister Makkawi Mohamed Al-Awad expressed in a press statement his hope that Sudan Airways would recapture its global status after having suffered long-term stalemate in world markets.

He considered the initiative with Airbus a step towards development and boosting competition for international airlines.The plan includes open options either through partnership, or sales, he added.

According to the minister, the restructuring of the Sudanese airliner is a part of a national plan to expand a fleet of civil aircraft over the next three years, noting that the Airbus plan is promising for the revival of Sudan Airways.

In preparation for the makeover, Sudan Airways carried out last month a huge employee survey and shuffle which saw the hiring of new personnel.

“Sudan Airways could have been bankrupt. It has not performed well in recent years and has difficulties in to pay back its debts to clients, including the Sudanese civil aviation authorities,” Awad said in an earlier interview.

The Airbus plan was prepared when Sales Director Airbus Middle-East & North Africa Cyrille Picard visited Khartoum two months ago with a large team of experts, Sudan Airways sources said.

Arrangements are under way for the purchase of a new air fleet comprising seven aircraft units.

In November 2017, Khartoum signed a contract with a Chinese company on buying two planes at $60 million.

It is worth noting that Sudan Airways’ partnership with the Islamic Development Bank helps greatly in financing a part of the new aircraft deals.



China's ENN, Zhenhua Oil Agree LNG Deals with ADNOC

Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
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China's ENN, Zhenhua Oil Agree LNG Deals with ADNOC

Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo
Logos of ADNOC are seen at Gastech, the world's biggest expo for the gas industry, in Chiba, Japan, April 4, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

China's privately controlled ENN Natural Gas and state-run Zhenhua Oil have each signed a term deal to buy liquefied natural gas from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

ENN Natural Gas said on its official WeChat account on Saturday that the deal covers annual supplies of about one million metric tons for 15 years, marking ADNOC's largest LNG contract with a Chinese buyer, Reuters reported.

Separately, state oil and gas trader Zhenhua Oil agreed a 5-year deal starting 2026 for annual volumes of up to 12 cargoes, said a Chinese industry source with direct knowledge of the agreement.

Zhenhua Oil was not immediately available for comment on a weekend day.