Content area
Full Text
Niger: Energy provision
Dependence on Nigeria for oil imports and electricity
Niger consumes very little energy--it has one of the lowest rates of energy consumption in the world--and mostly by wood fuel (91%). Niger has an annual petroleum requirement of 170,000 cu metres, which is met through imports, mainly from Nigeria. There have been substantial increases in the price of petrol and other fuels in recent years, reflecting higher prices across the border in Nigeria, the main supplier. Societe nigerienne de produits petroliers (Sonidep), the former state monopoly responsible for importing and distributing petroleum products, is due to be privatised.
Domestic electricity is thermally generated, except for small rural solar installations. Domestic production totalled 199.2m kwh in 2000, 134.9m kwh of which was produced by Societe nigerienne de charbon (Sonichar) north of the country, the remaining 64.3m kwh being mostly produced by the national electric power utility, Societe nigerienne...
