Benin will allow exports of Nigerien oil through its port of Seme, Benin’s government said on Wednesday, resolving a tense standoff between the West African neighbours.
Land-locked Niger last November inaugurated a giant oil pipeline to transport crude extracted from its Agadem oilfield by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) to neighbouring Benin for shipment from the Atlantic Coast.
But loading of Nigerien oil at the port of Seme Kpodji was complicated by the closure of Niger’s borders with its neighbours when the Economic Community of States of the West Africa (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions following a July 2023 coup by Niger’s military.
“Benin intends to play its part in all agreements signed within the framework of this pipeline project,” Beninese Minister of Mines, Samou Seidou Adambi said in a statement to the press.
“Benin authorises the loading of the first ship currently anchored in our waters.”
Benin had already announced it would reopen its border, but Niger’s military rulers have so far kept their side of the frontier closed.
Beninese President Patrice Talon last week called on the Nigerien authorities to reopen their border posts and normalise relations, if Niamey wanted to export its oil from the Beninese port.
The minister said Benin had “no interest” in harming Niger or Wapco, the Chinese partner who operates the pipeline.
The decision followed the visit by a delegation of officials from the Chinese ministries of foreign affairs and energy, as well as executives of state-owned CNPC, who met with Talon and the Beninese ministers of mines and foreign affairs Wednesday morning, according to the specialist African news site, Africa Intelligence.
A Benin presidential spokesman earlier Wednesday said he had no information about the visit by a Chinese delegation.
“We are currently at the stage of starting production, transporting and exploiting the oil,” said Wapco representative Wen Yuan.
The closure of the border with Niger hurt Benin’s public revenues and increased the cost of food, prompting labour union protests over the high cost of living.