China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has announced a complete suspension of construction activities at the Agadem oilfield in eastern Niger due to escalating security concerns.
The decision follows a series of attacks targeting the country’s oil infrastructure in recent months.
A CNPC statement released on Sunday detailed that “terrorist groups” carried out multiple assaults on oil projects on June 12, significantly deteriorating the security situation at the Agadem site.
As a precautionary measure, the company has placed all employees on leave until conditions improve. CNPC assured workers will continue to receive standard leave pay during this period.
The Agadem oilfield, located over 1,700 kilometers from the capital Niamey, is a crucial asset for Niger, with its crude oil exported through a pipeline to the Atlantic coast of neighboring Benin.
However, this pipeline has also been a target for attacks by various armed groups, including the Patriotic Liberation Front (FPL).
The FPL, a rebel group advocating for the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, claimed responsibility for a pipeline attack on June 16, labeling it a warning to Niger’s military junta.
The junta subsequently condemned the incident as a “terrorist act” perpetrated by “malicious individuals.”
As of Wednesday, Niger’s military-led government had yet to publicly respond to CNPC’s decision. The Chinese company is a major investor in Niger’s oil sector, with oil production at Agadem commencing in 2011.
The suspension of operations highlights the growing challenges faced by the country in balancing economic development with security in its resource-rich regions.
