This decision by Niamey was taken to protect its local consumption and fight against fraud. Indeed, for several days, smuggling has been organized in the direction of neighboring countries in difficulty of supply. Service stations on the borders of Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso are out of fuel. Niamey, the Nigerien capital, is in turn experiencing a shortage.
With our correspondent in Niamey, Moussa Kaka
With a daily production of 20,000 barrels a day, Niger has for some years been a gasoline producing country. But for the past few weeks, there has been a shortage of diesel at some service stations in the interior of the country, particularly along the border with Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso.
In these three countries, the liter of diesel sold at the station is around 1,000 CFA francs, while in Niger it is 538 CFA francs. Many also come to get supplies at the borders. The shortage reached the capital, Niamey, three days ago: there is no longer a drop of diesel in most service stations, hundreds of large trucks that consume diesel are immobilized.
According to the Trade and Petroleum Ministers, diligent investigations have revealed speculation on the price of diesel as well as the beginning of a scarcity of this product following fraudulent sales of quantities intended for national consumption abroad. The two ministries then decided to suspend exports from June 1, to constitute a national security stock and to close service stations caught in the act of fraudulent export.
The main responsible for this shortage are identified. They are two Chinese nationals from the Zinder refinery company, Soraz, the director of the sales division and his deputy. They are in the process of being expelled from Niger.
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