The Minister Samou Seidou Adambi and a Chinese delegation
The Beninese authorities finally gave their agreement for the export of Nigerien oil via the Sémè platform.
The export of Nigerien oil via the Beninese port of Sèmè has been authorized again, the Beninese Minister of Mines announced on Wednesday Samou Seidou Adambiafter several months of standoff between Porto-Novo and the military regime of Niamey.
This decision was taken following a working session between the Beninese government and a Chinese delegation.
For his part, the Beninese Minister of Energy explained that his country granted Niger the possibility of exporting crude oil on the Sémè platform and that this decision was “punctual and provisional” following an express request from Nigerien customs to participate in loading operations.
“Nigerian customs having sent a letter to Beninese customs for the participation of a delegation of Nigerien executives together with Beninese executives as provided for by the agreements, we have therefore decided to authorize the loading of the ship which anchors in our waters », affirmed in front of the press Samou Seidou Adambi.
Remember that Niger inaugurated in November a giant oil pipeline which aims to allow the transport to neighboring Benin of crude oil extracted from the Agadem deposit (south-east) by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), an oil company owned by the Chinese state.
But the loading of Nigerien oil at the port of Sèmè Kpodji could not start, firstly because of the closure of the borders between Niger and its neighbors after the sanctions imposed on Niamey by the West African organization ECOWAS, following the coup that overthrew President Mohammed Bazoum in July 2023.
