Middle East / Africa

Niger flag
Summary | Profile

Country profile: Niger

Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Size: 1267000 sq. km total (Land area: 1266700 sq. km  Water area: 300 sq.km)
Population: 13,272,679 (July 2008 est.)
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Government: republic
Capital city: Niamey
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note
Licensing:

Country profile

Regional leaders created the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on May 28, 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. ECOWAS is comprised of 15 countries, which include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire , The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria , Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The leaders established ECOWAS to promote regional integration and economic growth in West Africa, as well as to create a monetary union in the region. However, ECOWAS has encountered problems in the process of regional integration including: political instability and lack of good governance that has plagued many member countries, the insufficient diversification of national economies, the absence of reliable infrastructure, and the multiplicity of organizations for regional integration with the same objectives.

Commercial energy resources in ECOWAS, primarily petroleum and natural gas, are concentrated in coastal and offshore regions. Electricity in West Africa is generated through thermal (57.8 percent of installed capacity) or hydroelectric (42.2 percent) resources. Natural gas could take a more significant role in the Community's energy sector as fields in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire are developed. Due to a relatively small urban population in ECOWAS (approximately 33.9 percent) and lack of infrastructure, access to commercial energy sources is limited. In 2005, Nigeria had petroleum exports of 2.3 million barrels per day (bbl/d), while Côte d’Ivoire, exported 39,000 bbl/d of petroleum. All other ECOWAS countries are net energy importers. Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993.

Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. A predominately Tuareg ethnic group emerged in February 2007, the Nigerien Movement for Justice (MNJ), and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007. Events have since evolved into a budding insurrection.

Energy production and consumption


Oil Gas
Production:    
Consumption: 5,450 bbl/day (2005 est.)  
Exports:    
Imports: 5,412 bbl/day (2005 est.)  
Reserves:    
Major fields:



Niger - recent news

11 May 23
Niger: Savannah Energy signs MOA with the Government of Niger for the development of up to 200MW of new solar projects
Savannah Energy has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement ('MOA') by Savannah Energy Niger Solar, a wholly owned subsidiary of Savannah, with the Government of the Republic of Niger for the development of two solar photovoltaic power plants with a combined installed power generation capacity of up to 200 megawatts.
07 Mar 23
Nigeria: San Leon Energy comments on removal of Eroton as operator of OML 18
San Leon has commented on the statement on the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company ('NNPC') website that indicates that the non-operating partners of OML 18 have removed Eroton as operator of OML 18 on the basis of, amongst other things, zero production from the field at present. San Leon currently holds an initial 10.58% indirect economic interest in OML 18 which is unaffected by the identity of the operator.
29 Mar 22
Niger: Savannah Energy signs agreement with Niger Government for country's first wind farm
Savannah Energy has announced its inaugural renewable energy project, having signed an agreement for the construction and operation of the country's first wind farm in the Tahoua Region of Southern Niger. The proposed wind farm project, Parc Eolien de la Tarka, is expected to produce up to 600 gigawatt hours per year of electricity.
20 Dec 21
Niger: Savannah Energy provides update on Niger licensing and the proposed acquisitions
Savannah Energy has provided an update on its acquisition of ExxonMobil and PETRONAS assets in Chad and Cameroon and an update on the restructuring of its Niger licences.
16 Sep 19
Niger: Savannah Petroleum reports the signature of the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline Transportation Convention
Savannah Petroleum has noted the signature of a Transportation Convention between China National Petroleum Corporation ('CNPC') and the Republic of Niger in relation to the planned crude oil export pipeline from the Agadem Rift Basin to the Atlantic coast in Benin (the 'Niger-Benin Export Pipeline').

Niger - more news

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