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Biography of Hon. Puot Kang Chol

Minister of Petroleum, Republic of south Sudan

Early life and Education:

He was born Puot Kang Chol on the 1st of January 1985, in Mandeeng,

Nasir County- Upper Nile State to Mr. Kang Chol and Mrs. He started

attending Dima Primary School in Dima Refugee Camp, Ethiopia where he

finished his primary education. He went on to attend Kebena Secondary

School, a Private school in the Federal Democratic Republic of

Ethiopia. Thereafter, he moved to Kampala, Uganda where he enrolled at

Cavendish University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).

SPLM Party:

In what seems to be his first official assignment, Puot Kang Chol was

first appointed as an Executive Director in the office of Dr. Ann

Itto, who was the then Deputy Director of SPLM Party - Southern

Sector. While working as the Executive Director in Dr. Ann’s office,

Puot was able get in-depth understanding of the Structures, Policies

as well as the Rules and Procedures for running of the SPLM Party. He

was also able interact with the top cadres of the party thus becoming

more informed of the day-to-day affairs of the party - an advantage

that led to his appointment as the Director of Membership and

Recruitment in the SPLM Party in 2010; a position he occupied until

the outbreak of the 2013 war.

The South Sudan Civil War of 2013 and SPLMIO

Following the outbreak of the South Sudanese Civil War In December

2013 when President Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and ten

others of attempting a coup d'état, Puot Kang Chol was among the youth

that were as well accused of supporting Dr. Riek Machar and thus had

to leave Juba to escape possible political persecution. He later

joined Dr. Riek in Nasir where the first SPLMIO Convention was held

and here, he was appointed as the Chairperson of the SPLMIO Youth Wing

as well as a Member of the SPLMIO Liberation Council.

South Sudan Peace Talks/Negotiations

In January 2014, direct negotiations between both sides, as mediated

by IGAD plus (which includes the eight regional nations as well as the

African Union, United Nations, China, the EU, USA, UK and Norway),

began. As a member of the SPLM-LC and Chairperson of the SPLMIO Youth

League, Puot Kang Chol was nominated as one of the Negotiators to the

talks.

The Pre-Transitional Period of RARCISS

Hon. Puot Kang Chol had served as a member of the National

Pre-Transitional Committee representing SPLM -IO. His work alongside

his colleagues was to ensure that the Revitalized- Agreement on the

Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan signed in 2018

is implemented in letter and spirit.

Political Appointment:

Following the formation of the Revitalized Transitional of Government

National Unity which was a culmination of the Revitalized Agreement on

the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan that was

signed in September 2018,  Hon. Puot Kang Chol was nominated by the

Chairman of the SPLMIO, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon to assume the

post of the Minister of Petroleum as per the RARCISS allocations of

Cabinet Ministries and on 22nd February 2020, he was appointed by the

President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit as the Minister of Petroleum of the

Republic of South Sudan – making him the first youngest Minister to

occupy that Ministry.

Personal life:

Hon. Puot Kang is engaged to his fiancée, Nyamal Gatluak Deng Garang

and will soon hold their wedding. Puot has continually committed his

time and resources to inspiring and empowering a new class of South

Sudanese young intellectuals, mentoring young talents in this

undeserved society with essential skills and tools for

self-development.

Key Projects Executed/Achievements:

In shortest period that he has been the Minister of Petroleum in the

Republic of South Sudan, Hon. Puot introduced, commenced,

completed/achieved and continues to oversee the implementation various

projects and reform policies. Some of these few reform policies

include but are not limited to:

I.      Environmental Audit (approaching final stage)

Section 32 of the Draft Environment Protection Bill, 2010 Cap 7

intends to introduce the requirement for Environmental Audits. An Environmental Audit, according to this Bill, is defined as the

systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of how well

Environmental organization, management and equipment are performing in

conserving the Environment and its resources. In compliance to the

above bill and the South Sudan Petroleum Act 2021 chapter XIV which

allows the ministry to make regulations to achieve high level of

health and safety and environmental protection, on 14th January 2021,

the Ministry of Petroleum under the auspice of Puot Kang Chol launched

the opening bid round for its environmental audit tender.

The environmental audits will start the conversation by bringing to

light what has been happening, where the pollution has happened, and

to what extent. This shall be followed by recommendations on what

should be done, which includes ways of ensuring that the people whose

health has been affected get medical assistance, and that the

environment is also cleaned up where possible. The other thing is to

see to it that health and environmental safeguards are put in place

for all oil operations in the country.

II. Unified Human Resources Policy Manual (UHRPM) 2020. (Completed)

One of the highest achievement that has earned Hon. Puot Kang Chol

praises and labels like “most patriotic citizen” among the South

Sudanese is the Unified Human Resources Policy Manual. (UHRPM), a

document that was launched on the 21st of December 2020 will be the

basis of employment and payment in the oil industry. The document

requires that nationals and foreign experts in the same workplace be

given equal pay for equal work. After a back and forth discussions

with the partners, the document was finally signed on the 22nd of

February 2022 by the ministry and partners with sole agreement that it

will implemented without any changes to the contents which were

initially rejected by the partners.

III. Geophysical Aircraft for Mineral Survey.

Under the leadership of PKC, South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum

acquired the first two geophysical planes to generate geophysical

aerial data and conduct surveys of oil and other mineral deposits in

the country. The geological and seismic investigation aircraft will

acquire new data over large areas without harming the environment

through aerial surveys and mapping thus, advancing South Sudan’s

exploration agenda.

IV. Local Content Regulation.

South Sudan’s Petroleum Act, 2012 and Petroleum Revenue Management

Act, 2013 provide for some of these mechanisms, significant shortfalls

in enforcement notwithstanding. The Petroleum Act, 2012 provides local

content clauses that require (1) procurement of goods and services

produced in South Sudan, (2) prioritization of employment and training

of South Sudanese, and (3) transfer of skills, knowledge, competence,

and know-how to South Sudanese. To meet these requirements, the Act

requires the oil companies to prepare and implement plans and programs

that prioritize procurement of South Sudanese goods, services,

materials, personnel and training and transfer of know-how to South

Sudanese. Under the wise leadership of Puot Kang Chol, the Ministry of

Petroleum has commenced on the formulation of measures and framework

to enable South Sudanese participation in the oil and gas Industry.

These frameworks require the companies to prepare and implement plans

and programs for procuring national goods and services, employment and

training of South Sudanese including in post-graduate training and

scholarships and transfer of skills, knowledge, competence, and

technical know-how. The policy also requires that unskilled labor must

be given to South Sudanese. The petroleum companies are also required

to prepare and implement local content plans and submit annual reports

to the Ministry of Petroleum.

V.      Completion of the Data Center for the Petroleum and Geophysical

Data storage. (Completed)

As part of the transformation process in the South Sudan oil and gas

industry, the National Ministry of Petroleum under the stewardship of

Hon. Puot Kang Chol has opened first Geological Data Center in Juba.

The $3.7 million facility which was implemented in a period of one

year will be used for keeping important data especially on

hydrocarbons, minerals and other Geo-scientific information. In

addition, the Center will also help university students and companies

to carry out their scientific research in the country’s geophysical

data.

VI. Crop Dusting Plane

The Ministry purchased three air-crafts for mapping and collecting

data on hydrocarbons and minerals. These air-crafts shall be in direct

use by the ministry of Agriculture.

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