Case 10: Sharing Knowledge in a Sudanese Oil Refinery Through Cultural and Language Trainings

Abstract

South Sudan is rich in oil resources, and China plays a pivotal role in the country. About 40% of the oil production lies in the hands of Chinese investors. Mr Lin, one of the Chinese managers of a topping refinery situated near the White Nile, understands that educated South Sudanese staff could in future manage the oil production and refinery work. However, currently, only approximately one-third of the population is literate, and education is not readily available. Mr Lin has been instructed to offer knowledge-sharing and communication skills trainings to lift the educational standard of workers in his refinery. However, the South Sudanese workers do not anticipate any improvement because Chinese managers often move from company to company or even return to China for good. The refinery appears to be divided into managers and computer specialists speaking Chinese, and a workforce of South Sudanese who speak Luo and Dinka (local languages). English as a bridging language is largely absent. Mr Lin believes in the power of cooperation as when four decades ago, China developed from an agricultural economy into a modern industrial economy.