Niger Reduces Its Dependence On China. What A Bold Move From The Niger Junta.

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Since the military government of Niger assumed power in July 2023, leading to a drastic change in the geopolitics of the Sahel region, there have been talks from all over the world that Niger and the other military governments of Burkina Faso and Mali are simply replacing the West with Russia and China. This is because since they came into power, the military juntas have distanced their countries from the West and drawn closer to Russia and China. Hence, the word is that countries in the Sahel are replacing one colonized for another. However, the military junta of Niger has just proved them wrong. One thing that should be understood about these military leaders is that they are different. From all the actions they have taken since they came into power, it is very clear that they value the sovereignty and Independence of their country above all else, even if it means going against long-time partners.

The military junta of Niger, General Tiani has just taken a bold step to confirm that he is committed to protecting the interests of Niger in terms of its resources. So, what exactly did he do?

You see, since it arrived in Niger in 2008, the China National Petroleum Corporation has been in control of Niger’s oil sector. Through its company PetroChina, China struck a deal with the Nigerien government to develop the Agadem oil field which has an estimated reserves of 650 million barrels. As part of the deal, PetroChina invested in the construction of the SORAZ refinery, located 460 km away in the southern city of Zinder and, eventually led to Niger becoming an oil producer in 2011. According to the agreement China holds a 60% stake in the refinery, which has a capacity of 20,000 barrels per day and mostly supplies the domestic market, while the government owns the remaining share. In 2019, China took a step further to construct the 2000 km oil pipeline between the Agadem field and the Beninese port city of Cotonou, to expand oil production in Niger. Currently, the construction of the project is complete and Niger is set to produce 110,000 barrels of oil per day.