Niger Seeks Greater Oil Investment: Prime Minister to Spotlight Pipeline Boom at African Energy Week 2025
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Niger's Bold Energy Ambitions Take Center Stage
Niger, a landlocked nation long overshadowed by larger African oil producers, is quickly rising as a significant player in the continent’s energy landscape. In a landmark move, Niger’s Prime Minister, Mahamane Lamine Zeine, will participate in the African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 conference in Cape Town, South Africa. His presence highlights Niger’s drive to attract increased international investment and strategic partnerships as the country ramps up oil production and export capacity.
A key highlight of Niger’s energy transformation is the recently operational Niger–Benin Export Pipeline. This 1,950-kilometer pipeline, launched in May 2024, links Niger’s Agadem oilfields to Benin’s Atlantic coast, enabling crude exports to reach international markets for the first time on a large scale. With a capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, the pipeline has already helped Niger export over 14 million barrels of crude oil since its launch.
The pipeline’s completion has not only elevated Niger’s profile in the oil and gas sector but also underpins the country’s aspirations to become a regional energy hub. At AEW 2025, the Prime Minister is expected to promote the pipeline’s impact and outline opportunities for further upstream investment and regional energy integration.
Niger’s government is actively seeking foreign partners and investment to expand oil production. Several blocks in the Agadem basin remain open for exploration, and the country is pushing to attract new players with favorable terms. Existing partnerships with international oil companies have proven instrumental in jumpstarting the sector, and Niger now hopes to deepen these relationships while bringing new investors on board.
During the conference, Prime Minister Zeine is also expected to discuss recent cooperation agreements, such as the memorandum of understanding signed with Algeria’s Sonatrach for refining, petrochemicals, and technical training. Such partnerships are intended to create added value within Niger, ensuring that more of the oil’s economic benefits remain in the country.
Economic Impact and Government Objectives
The surge in oil activity has become a cornerstone of Niger’s economic growth, contributing significantly to government revenue and job creation. The government’s overarching goal is to leverage these resources for broad-based development—including infrastructure, education, and improved public services—while ensuring transparency and sustainability.
With the launch of large-scale crude exports, Niger has gained new leverage in negotiations with investors, positioning itself as a reliable and ambitious partner in Africa’s energy market. The country is also focusing on the long-term security and resilience of its export routes, given recent challenges with pipeline transit through neighboring countries.
Niger’s Oil Sector: Key Extraction Zones, Industry Players, and Future Prospects
Niger’s oil extraction is centered in the Agadem Basin, a region in the southeast that has become the heart of the country’s petroleum industry. This area is rich in resources and forms the backbone of Niger’s growing oil production. The most prominent operator is the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which has played a leading role in developing the Agadem fields and is a key partner in the Niger–Benin export pipeline project. Savannah Energy, a British independent company, also holds significant assets in Niger’s upstream oil sector, contributing to exploration and production.
In addition to these main players, Algeria’s Sonatrach has recently entered the scene through cooperation agreements focused on refining and petrochemical projects. Niger is also encouraging investment from a broader pool of international partners, with new exploration blocks available and ongoing opportunities attracting interest from companies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The Nigerien government maintains a strong presence in its oil sector, typically holding a 15% to 20% direct ownership stake in projects, in addition to benefiting from taxes, royalties, and export duties. Currently, Niger produces around 20,000 barrels of oil per day, but with the recent launch of the Niger–Benin pipeline, the country is targeting rapid growth and aims to reach or exceed 100,000 barrels per day in the near future. As investment continues to flow in and production expands, Niger is set to strengthen its position as a regional energy hub, bringing increased economic benefits and development opportunities to its citizens.
