One of the first sectors affected by ECOWAS sanctions in Niger is that of electricity because 70% of Niger’s electricity was previously imported from Nigeria, a country which interrupted distribution. A decision which has major impacts on the Nigerien electricity company for which the outlook for 2024 looks gloomy.
1 min
In a video circulating on social networks and which RFI was able to authenticate, the director of Nigelec, the national electricity company of Niger, takes stock. She evokes a year 2023 “ particularly difficult “. The suspension of supply by the Nigeria caused load shedding and “ a consumption huge amount of diesel to satisfy customer needs » because the national company had to compensate by using thermal power plants, which are fuel-intensive. It was also able to count on its Gorou Banda solar power plant.
Furthermore, energy sales, “ main source of revenue » of Nigelec specifies the director, have not achieved the planned objectives. The national company therefore ended the year in the red with a deficit of nearly 15 billion FCFA.
Gloomy forecast
If trade with Nigeria does not resume quickly, the situation would be even more difficult, specifies the director. The forecast deficit for 2024 is estimated at 44 billion FCFA.
Discussions with the authorities are reportedly underway so that trade can resume between Nigeria and Nigelec, which could also suffer from the suspension of aid from international donors. Part of these funds was intended to finance electricity infrastructure projects.