Birth defects soar in South Sudan oil patch

When Ping Mayak Geer was born with six fingers on each hand, one stunted leg, a deformed foot and kidney swelling, the Greater Pioneer Operating Company flew the baby to Kenya for testing. "The oil company told me that this is a genetic problem, but we say that it's not genetic," says Cornelius Mayak Geer, the boy's father.  "This is all happening to us because of the oil pollution."

An investigation by The Associated Press into South Sudan's oil fields in the Upper Nile and Unity states found rampant pollution, birth defects and unexplained illnesses.

Nearby communities, lawmakers and local authorities accuse South Sudan's government and the two main oil consortiums - the Chinese-led Dar Petroleum Operating Company and the Greater Pioneer Operating Company - of neglect and attempts to silence those who have tried to expose the problem.

Birth defects around the oil fields in Unity state almost tripled between 2015 and 2017, according to an environmental report by a local advocacy group seen by the AP. It has not yet been published because the research is ongoing.

Environmental experts say there is little incentive for multinational companies to do anything because it is easy to get away with things in impoverished countries like South Sudan.

"So these companies have this model for doing oil and gas development in these developing Third World nations, and that is to go in, buy the government or otherwise ally themselves with the government, get no regulations on them, very favorable tax and royalty regimes, and do whatever they want to make as much profit as they want quickly, and then leave," says Rick Steiner, who has consulted on oil pollution for the United Nations and others.

"And that's kind of the model that they're imposing on South Sudan. And it's really a tragedy for the people there and for the environment."

Neither Dar nor Greater Pioneer responded to the AP's requests for comment. Oil Minister Awow Daniel Chuang calls links between the contamination and birth defects "premature speculations."

The World Health Organization and others say exposure to oil and drilling-related chemicals can be harmful to unborn children.

"If there is human exposure, even at minute quantities, like down to 10 parts per billion of benzenes and PAHs and such, and the poly nuclear hydrocarbons, that can cause birth defects, cancers, cardiovascular disease, respiratory ailments and such like that," Steiner says. "There's a well-established linkage there."

Geer says he has yet to see his son's medical tests for himself. But he says things like this weren't happening before the oil companies.

"Because even the cattle, the animals like goats and cows have also been born like this in our towns in Ruweng State are all affected like my boy," he says.

Abui Mou Kueth, Ping's mother, says the infant cannot breast feed and cries all night in pain.

"I am worried about his future," she says.

As South Sudan emerges from civil war and famine, it is trying to revive its economy by expanding the oil industry. In October, oil minister Chuang announced plans to open a licensing round of 14 oil blocks for exploration.