(Ecofin Agency) - The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has withdrawn 191 of its workers in South Sudan due to fears of an increase in the armed conflict between the government and opposition troops.

According to the company in a statement, only 77 of its workers remain in the country, managing the company’s oilfields.

CNPC added that it will try and maintain standard operations in South Sudan but warns that it may evacuate all its personnel should the situation gets worse.

China expended $20 billion in Sudan before the separation in 2011, and the investment was helpful as almost 14 million barrels of oil were produced in the first ten months of 2013. The commencement of civil war in December 2013 between forces devoted to President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar made output reduce to 120,000 barrel per day.

Another fight began at the start of this month in the Southern Sudanese capital of Juba leaving 272 people dead.

Due to this conflict, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan, India and Uganda have all made efforts to evacuate their citizens out of South Sudan.

The conflict has reduced oil production in the northern Upper Nile state despite the fact that South Sudan maintained 75% of Sudan’s oil supply since independence.

South Sudan relies on its neighbour, who upholds pipelines and other facilities used in exporting South Sudanese oil through the Bashayer port along the Red Sea, Oil Price news reports.

Anita Fatunji