In Niger, Soraz oil refinery is to resume the export of petroleum products, putting an end to a monopoly held by Sonidep since 2011.

“Soraz and Sonidep are authorized to jointly export refined products. After meeting domestic needs, the excess production will be split 50-50 between the companies,” Foumakoye Gado (photo), Energy Minister, told Reuters.

Soraz is a joint venture between the government of Niger and China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), which holds a 60% on the facility. The refinery is the country’s only large-scale means of converting crude oil into other petroleum products like gasoline, producing from 12,000 to 16,000 bpd.

The decision to resume export was arrived at after negotiations with the cabinet and CNPC. An export price is to be set monthly and measures would be put in place to balance the rise in pump prices, the energy minister said.

Anita Fatunji