Oil money is again exacerbating the war. A consortium operated by state-owned China National Petroleum Company has made a 'very significant' strike in Block 7 of east-central Sudan's Melut Basin, say industry sources. This will boost the Islamist government just as the United States finally blames it for most attacks on civilians in oil areas. This is the first Block 7 strike for Petrodar, a consortium apparently of CNPC, Qatar's Gulf Petroleum Corp., government's Sudapet and local firm Al Hath. Concessions often change hands: Salah Idriss, owner of the bombed Shifa pharmaceutical factory, once held part of Block 7.
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