South Sudan sits at the meeting point of the Nile basin, savanna and forested regions, and its landscapes host a mix of hydrocarbon, mineral and biological assets. Since independence these resources have shaped both local livelihoods and national planning, even as exploration and documentation remain uneven.
There are 17 Natural Resources of South Sudan, ranging from Associated natural gas to Wildlife and biodiversity. Each entry is organized with Category,Main location (state/region),Estimated reserves / status (include units, use metric where applicable),Description (30-50 words) so you can compare type, location and current estimates — details you’ll find below.
How reliable are the estimates for these resources?
Many figures are provisional: oil and gas estimates come from seismic and well data, minerals often rely on limited surveys, and biological resources use ecological assessments. Expect ranges rather than precise totals and check dates and sources for recent exploration or reassessments.
Which resources are most likely to support economic recovery soon?
Petroleum (including associated natural gas), timber, fisheries and certain agricultural commodities have the clearest near-term potential because of existing markets and some infrastructure; wider development depends on investment, security and governance to translate resources into sustainable income.
Natural Resources of South Sudan
| Resource | Category | Main location (state/region) | Estimated reserves / status (include units, use metric where applicable) | Description (30-50 words) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude oil | Hydrocarbon | Greater Upper Nile (Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei) | Proven ~3,500,000,000 barrels (at 2011 independence); production ongoing but constrained | South Sudan’s primary export hydrocarbon concentrated in Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei. Proven reserves ~3,500,000,000 barrels at independence; production continues from fields and pipelines. Revenue funds government but infrastructure damage, pipeline disputes and insecurity limit investment and output. |
| Associated natural gas | Hydrocarbon (natural gas) | Greater Upper Nile (oilfields) | Limited quantified reserves; mostly associated gas currently flared or vented | Mostly associated gas produced with oil in the Greater Upper Nile. Proven standalone gas reserves are limited; most gas is flared due to lack of capture infrastructure. Potential for domestic power and petrochemical use exists but requires investment and stability. |
| Gold | Precious metal | Eastern Equatoria (Kapoeta), Jonglei, Upper Nile (artisanal sites) | No national proven reserve estimate; artisanal production and localized deposits documented | Artisanal gold occurs in Eastern Equatoria (Kapoeta), Jonglei and parts of Upper Nile. No national proven reserve estimate; small-scale miners supply local markets. Prospecting by companies noted, but insecurity, weak regulation and lack of infrastructure hinder commercial development. |
| Iron ore | Metal ore | Wau area and other central-west occurrences (Western Bahr el Ghazal) | Occurrences documented; no large proven national reserves publicly certified | Iron ore occurrences reported near Wau and other central-west locations. Formal exploration is limited and no large proven reserves publicly certified. Iron could support steelmaking if largescale deposits are confirmed, yet poor transport and finance slow development. |
| Copper | Metal ore | Various occurrences (reported in eastern and central regions) | Reported occurrences; limited exploration and no comprehensive reserve figures | Copper mineralisation has been reported in several regions, including parts of Eastern and Central states. Data on proven reserves is limited; activity is primarily exploratory or artisanal. Commercial extraction depends on detailed surveys, security and investment in processing. |
| Chromite | Metal ore | Multiple reported occurrences (surveyed areas) | Documented occurrences but no detailed reserve estimates publicly available | Chromite occurrences have been documented in geological surveys but lack detailed reserve estimates. Potential applications in stainless steel and ferroalloys exist. Development is constrained by scant exploration data, limited local capacity and ongoing instability. |
| Limestone | Industrial mineral | Nile corridors and upland areas | Widespread local reserves; small-scale quarrying with potential for cement production | Widespread limestone resources suitable for cement and aggregates occur along Nile corridors and uplands. Reserves are locally significant with small-scale quarrying. Development for cement production remains undeveloped due to capital and logistics challenges, despite high local construction demand. |
| Gypsum | Industrial mineral | Various states (local quarries) | Deposits documented; reserve quantities poorly quantified | Gypsum deposits occur in various states and are used for plaster and cement additives. Reserve estimates are poorly quantified but local quarrying exists. Gypsum could supply domestic construction needs if transport and processing infrastructure improve. |
| Marble and dimension stone | Industrial mineral | Eastern and central regions (reported occurrences) | Occurrences reported; extraction largely artisanal with limited reserve data | Marble and dimension stone occurrences reported in eastern and central regions. Documented reserves are limited and extraction remains artisanal. Marble has export and construction potential, but needs geological surveys, investment and improved security to scale up. |
| Sand and gravel | Construction aggregate | Nationwide riverine and floodplain deposits | Abundant local reserves; effectively unlimited at local scales | Abundant riverine and floodplain sand and gravel across the country supply local construction and road projects. Reserves are effectively unlimited at local scale but quality varies. Sustainable extraction and transport logistics are main constraints for larger-scale use. |
| Clay | Industrial mineral (ceramics/brickmaking) | Widespread near rivers and floodplains | Widespread deposits; heavily used locally for bricks and pottery | Clay deposits for brickmaking and ceramics are widespread, particularly near rivers and floodplains. Used extensively for local construction. Large-scale production is limited by lack of formal industries, transport and modern kiln technology. |
| Salt | Evaporite mineral | Northern and central lowlands (salt pans) | Small-scale extraction for local use; no large industrial operations | Salt pans and evaporite deposits exist in northern and central lowlands; small-scale extraction for local consumption occurs. No large industrial salt operations exist. Development challenges include remoteness, seasonal flooding and limited market infrastructure. |
| Timber and forest resources | Renewable biomass | Sudd wetlands, Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazal regions | Extensive forest cover; commercial forestry limited and poorly quantified | Extensive woodlands and swamp forests—notably the Sudd and Equatoria—provide timber, fuelwood and non-timber products. Forest resources support rural livelihoods but face unsustainable harvesting, agricultural expansion and weak governance, limiting commercial forestry and causing biodiversity loss. |
| Freshwater (Sudd wetlands/White Nile) | Water resource | Sudd, White Nile, Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile, Jonglei | Large freshwater and wetland system; seasonal variability and groundwater recharge potential | The Sudd wetlands and White Nile provide freshwater, groundwater recharge, irrigation potential and floodplain agriculture across Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Jonglei. Water resources are abundant but seasonal, with development constrained by ecology, flooding patterns and lack of infrastructure. |
| Fisheries | Renewable (aquatic resources) | White Nile, Sudd wetlands and floodplains | Artisanal fisheries; limited national catch statistics available | River and floodplain fisheries in the White Nile and Sudd sustain local food security and livelihoods. Annual catch data are limited; fishing is artisanal. Overfishing, habitat changes, and conflict disrupt stocks and market access for fishers. |
| Hydropower potential | Renewable energy resource | White Nile and tributaries (Upper Nile, Jonglei) | Significant undeveloped potential; no major commercial dams in operation | White Nile and tributaries offer significant undeveloped hydropower potential, especially in Upper Nile and Jonglei. No major commercial dams in operation; technical estimates vary. Financing, Nile basin coordination and political instability are key barriers to projects. |
| Wildlife and biodiversity | Renewable/ecosystem resource | National parks and reserves (Boma, Bandingilo, Nimule) | Significant biodiversity; wildlife populations reduced by poaching and conflict | South Sudan hosts substantial biodiversity in parks like Boma and Bandingilo, supporting potential ecotourism and ecosystem services. Wildlife populations have declined due to poaching and war. Conservation and tourism development remain constrained by insecurity and infrastructure deficits. |
Images and Descriptions
Crude oil
South Sudan’s primary export hydrocarbon concentrated in Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei. Proven reserves ~3,500,000,000 barrels at independence; production continues from fields and pipelines. Revenue funds government but infrastructure damage, pipeline disputes and insecurity limit investment and output.
Associated natural gas
Mostly associated gas produced with oil in the Greater Upper Nile. Proven standalone gas reserves are limited; most gas is flared due to lack of capture infrastructure. Potential for domestic power and petrochemical use exists but requires investment and stability.
Gold
Artisanal gold occurs in Eastern Equatoria (Kapoeta), Jonglei and parts of Upper Nile. No national proven reserve estimate; small-scale miners supply local markets. Prospecting by companies noted, but insecurity, weak regulation and lack of infrastructure hinder commercial development.
Iron ore
Iron ore occurrences reported near Wau and other central-west locations. Formal exploration is limited and no large proven reserves publicly certified. Iron could support steelmaking if largescale deposits are confirmed, yet poor transport and finance slow development.
Copper
Copper mineralisation has been reported in several regions, including parts of Eastern and Central states. Data on proven reserves is limited; activity is primarily exploratory or artisanal. Commercial extraction depends on detailed surveys, security and investment in processing.
Chromite
Chromite occurrences have been documented in geological surveys but lack detailed reserve estimates. Potential applications in stainless steel and ferroalloys exist. Development is constrained by scant exploration data, limited local capacity and ongoing instability.
Limestone
Widespread limestone resources suitable for cement and aggregates occur along Nile corridors and uplands. Reserves are locally significant with small-scale quarrying. Development for cement production remains undeveloped due to capital and logistics challenges, despite high local construction demand.
Gypsum
Gypsum deposits occur in various states and are used for plaster and cement additives. Reserve estimates are poorly quantified but local quarrying exists. Gypsum could supply domestic construction needs if transport and processing infrastructure improve.
Marble and dimension stone
Marble and dimension stone occurrences reported in eastern and central regions. Documented reserves are limited and extraction remains artisanal. Marble has export and construction potential, but needs geological surveys, investment and improved security to scale up.
Sand and gravel
Abundant riverine and floodplain sand and gravel across the country supply local construction and road projects. Reserves are effectively unlimited at local scale but quality varies. Sustainable extraction and transport logistics are main constraints for larger-scale use.
Clay
Clay deposits for brickmaking and ceramics are widespread, particularly near rivers and floodplains. Used extensively for local construction. Large-scale production is limited by lack of formal industries, transport and modern kiln technology.
Salt
Salt pans and evaporite deposits exist in northern and central lowlands; small-scale extraction for local consumption occurs. No large industrial salt operations exist. Development challenges include remoteness, seasonal flooding and limited market infrastructure.
Timber and forest resources
Extensive woodlands and swamp forests—notably the Sudd and Equatoria—provide timber, fuelwood and non-timber products. Forest resources support rural livelihoods but face unsustainable harvesting, agricultural expansion and weak governance, limiting commercial forestry and causing biodiversity loss.
Freshwater (Sudd wetlands/White Nile)
The Sudd wetlands and White Nile provide freshwater, groundwater recharge, irrigation potential and floodplain agriculture across Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Jonglei. Water resources are abundant but seasonal, with development constrained by ecology, flooding patterns and lack of infrastructure.
Fisheries
River and floodplain fisheries in the White Nile and Sudd sustain local food security and livelihoods. Annual catch data are limited; fishing is artisanal. Overfishing, habitat changes, and conflict disrupt stocks and market access for fishers.
Hydropower potential
White Nile and tributaries offer significant undeveloped hydropower potential, especially in Upper Nile and Jonglei. No major commercial dams in operation; technical estimates vary. Financing, Nile basin coordination and political instability are key barriers to projects.
Wildlife and biodiversity
South Sudan hosts substantial biodiversity in parks like Boma and Bandingilo, supporting potential ecotourism and ecosystem services. Wildlife populations have declined due to poaching and war. Conservation and tourism development remain constrained by insecurity and infrastructure deficits.
