Petrol shortages that have affected parts of Niger for several weeks have now reached the capital, Niamey, with long queues visible at petrol stations on Sunday, October 18. Some stations had begun rationing sales to 10 liters per person, according to a motorist cited by RFI. The shortage is linked to limited refining capacity and to the loss of cheaper smuggled fuel from Nigeria after subsidy cuts there made it more expensive.
According to Niger’s former Sonidep chief, the country’s only operational refinery, in Zinder, produces about 1.6 million liters of fuel per day, while national consumption is estimated at 3 million liters. Part of Niger’s market was previously supplied by smuggled fuel from Nigeria, but the removal of Nigerian fuel subsidies has made this source prohibitively expensive, further straining Niger’s supply.
In response to the worsening crisis, Niger’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued an order on October 12 banning the export of super petrol and diesel, except in cases where there is a surplus. The measure is intended to prioritize domestic supply and is enforceable by customs, commerce, and security officials, who are authorized to penalize violations. The order specifies that, in the event of a surplus, export sales by SONIDEP and SORAZ require special authorization from the Minister of Commerce.
The government’s export ban comes amid ongoing disruptions in fuel supply affecting stations in the capital. The Ministry of Commerce had published a list of stations where fuel was still available, but these were quickly overwhelmed by demand. The export restriction is intended to prioritize domestic supply.
Despite the shortages, the government has not announced any increase in fuel prices. Ten days prior, Niger’s head of state, General Tiani, publicly rejected the idea of raising prices, citing concerns about the cost of living. However, the need to import fuel to meet demand raises questions about the sustainability of current prices and the potential for future increases.
The full extent and duration of the shortages remain unclear. The order tasks the secretaries-general of the Commerce and Industry, Petroleum, Economy and Finance, Interior and Public Security and Territorial Administration, and National Defense ministries with implementing the export ban, and says it will be published in Niger’s official journal.