PetroDar#The Melut oil export pipeline
{{Short description|Sudanese fossil fuel consortium}}
{{update|date=December 2011}}
{{Infobox Company
|name = PetroDar Operating Company Ltd (PDOC)
|company_logo =
|type = Joint venture
|foundation = 31 October 2001
|location_city = Khartoum
|location_country = Sudan
|location =
|locations =
|key_people = Azhan Ali (President)
|area_served =
|industry = Oil & Gas
|products = Oil
|revenue =
|net_income =
|num_employees =
}}
The PetroDar Operating Company Ltd is a consortium of oil exploration and production companies operating in Sudan with its headquarters in Khartoum. The consortium was incorporated in the Virgin Islands on 31 October 2001. PetroDar is composed of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) (41% share), Petronas of Malaysia (40%), Sudapet of Sudan (8%), SINOPEC of China (6%), and Egypt Kuwait Holding Company through its subsidiary Tri-Ocean Energy of Kuwait (5%).{{cite web |author1=PetroDar Operating Company |url=http://petrodar.com/content.php?GL=1&PL=5 |title=Shareholders |website=petrodar.com |access-date=1 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731044052/http://petrodar.com:80/content.php?GL=1&PL=5 |archive-date=31 July 2020 |url-status=dead}}
In 2008, PetroDar was engaged in oil exploration and production in blocks 3 and 7, which are oil concession areas located in the Melut Basin in Southern Sudan.{{cite web |author1=Energy Information Administration |date=April 2007 |url=http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Sudan/Full.html |title=Country analysis brief: Sudan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313172226/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Sudan/Full.html |archive-date=13 March 2008 |website=eia.doe.gov |access-date=6 March 2008 |url-status=dead}} The company's production in this area reportedly accounted for almost half of Sudan's total crude oil output in late 2006.{{cite press release |title=SUDAN: The oil sector |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/SUDAN+-+The+Oil+Sector.-a0170592332 |publisher=Arab Press Service |via=The Free Library |date=29 October 2007 |access-date=15 April 2025}}
The Melut oil export pipeline
PetroDar operates the Melut oil export pipeline, also known as the PetroDar Pipeline. The pipeline connects the oil fields of the Melut Basin with the refinery and export terminal located at Port Sudan on the Red Sea.{{cite press release |title=Sudan to open new oil pipeline |url=https://sudantribune.com/article15445/ |publisher=Reuters |via=Sudan Tribune |date=5 April 2006 |location=Khartoum |access-date=15 April 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211005732/https://sudantribune.com/article15445/ |archive-date=11 December 2024}}
PetroDar pipeline starts from Palouge in the south of the Sudan and continues almost 1600 km to the city of Port Sudan. The pipeline took four years to complete with six pumping stations; Palouge, Algabaleen, Wad-shalaai, Alaylafon, Jebel Umm Ali and Musmar. All the pumping stations are equipped to facilitate the crude oil temperature and flow until it reaches Port Sudan.