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Business Insider
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Nigeria engages Ghana over $75m gas debt, promotes Atlantic pipeline partnership
Nigeria and Ghana, two West African nations, have held talks on the sidelines of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) Committee of Ministers meeting in Accra to resolve a pending $75 million debt dispute. Nigeria and Ghana discussed resolving a $75 million gas debt dispute during the WAGP meeting. The Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum met with President Mahama to discuss engagement with relevant agencies. Both nations reiterated their commitment to collaboration in the gas sector and to fulfilling financial obligations. Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ekpo Ekperipe, stated that he discussed the outstanding $75m gas debt with Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama, during the meeting. The minister emphasized the need to engage relevant agencies in Ghana to settle the debt owed to Nigeria for gas supplied under the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) agreement. Ghana's outstanding debt currently stands at $75 million for gas supplied several months ago, with uncleared documentation hindering payment. Ekpo stressed the urgency of resolving the issue to safeguard energy cooperation and regional harmony, as outlined in the Treaty. Ghana's gas deal with Nigeria Nigeria supplies gas to Ghana through the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), a 678-kilometer regional infrastructure project designed to transport natural gas from Nigeria's Niger Delta to Benin, Togo, and Ghana. The WAGP is operated by the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), a consortium that includes Chevron, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell, and national gas companies from Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Gas is primarily used by power plants in Ghana to generate electricity. Over the years, Ghana has occasionally fallen into arrears due to financial challenges in its energy sector, prompting Nigeria to demand payment to avoid supply disruptions. The recent $75 million arrears dispute is part of this ongoing supply and payment relationship. Nigeria seeks support for Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project The Nigerian Petroleum Minister also solicited Ghana's support for the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project, a strategic project aimed at deepening regional ties in areas of energy security and economic cooperation. " We are committed to sustaining continued collaboration with Ghana in the gas sector, ' he stated, reaffirming Nigeria's readiness to resolve all outstanding matters related to gas supply under the WAGP agreement. President Mahama, in his response, expressed appreciation for the minister's comments and shared concerns, reiterating Ghana's commitment to fulfilling its financial obligations to the West African Gas Pipeline project and promoting regional stability and prosperity. Notably, in February, the Ghanaian government announced plans to negotiate with Nigeria's N-Gas Limited to settle a $37.5 million payment, part of the outstanding debt for gas supplied to Ghana's power plants. However, the Managing Director of N-Gas has not confirmed or denied whether the payment was made.
Reuters
20-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Niger expelled Chinese oil execs over local-expatriate pay gap, minister says
NIAMEY, March 20 (Reuters) - Niger expelled three Chinese oil executives in a dispute over disparities between the salaries of expatriate staff and lower-paid local workers, Oil Minister Sahabi Oumarou said. Reuters reported last week that Niger's junta had ordered three Chinese officials working in the oil sector to leave within 48 hours. The Reuters Power Up newsletter provides everything you need to know about the global energy industry. Sign up here. The officials were Niger-based directors of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the West African Oil Pipeline Company (WAPCo) and the joint venture oil refinery SORAZ. "We are not satisfied with the way in which wealth is distributed between the state of Niger and the partner," Oumarou told journalists on Wednesday. The average salary of a Chinese employee in Niger last year was $8,678 per month, compared with $1,200 for an employee from Niger in the same post, he said. There was also a high concentration of expatriates in managerial positions, while Nigeriens tended to fill less significant roles as operators or labourers, he said. There had been several attempts to address the issue, the minister added, but the disparities had persisted, prompting the expulsions. "We are still always open to discussions," he told the press briefing. WAPCo and CNPC did not immediately reply to requests for comment. SORAZ could not be reached for comment. Several governments in the restive Sahel region - including Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali - have been seeking to assert greater control over their resources. Niger's partnership with China began in 2008 with a $5 billion agreement to develop oil in east Niger. Last year, the junta-led West African country and CNPC signed a $400 million memorandum of understanding for shipments of oil in the Agadem oilfield.
Reuters
14-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Niger orders three Chinese oil officials out of country, sources say
NIAMEY, March 14 (Reuters) - Niger's junta has ordered three Chinese officials working in the oil sector to leave the country, two sources familiar with the decision told Reuters on Friday, in the latest move by regional military governments to assert greater control over resources. The request for the departure of the Niger-based directors of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the West African Oil Pipeline Company (WAPCo) and the joint venture oil refinery SORAZ was communicated Wednesday, the sources said. The Chinese officials were given 48 hours to leave, and one source close to the government said on Friday they were out of the country. The other source, who is close to the affected companies, said the directors were asked to leave because of disputes over pay for local staff and the pace of work on projects. Separately, Niger's tourism ministry last week rescinded the license for a Chinese-operated hotel in Niamey, citing discriminatory practices. Spokespeople for the military junta, which took power in a coup in 2023, and the West African country's oil ministry did not respond to requests for comment. WAPCo and CNPC did not respond to requests for comment. SORAZ could not be reached for comment. Niger last year signed a memorandum of understanding with CNPC worth $400 million linked to the sale of crude oil from its Agadem oilfield. The Niger junta has torn up defence agreements with the United States and former colonial power France. Authorities also took control of French nuclear fuels company Orano's Somair uranium mine. Military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso have similarly used legal disputes to assert greater control over resources including gold.
