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Nigeria Cuts Electricity To Niger After Coup

Nigeria has interrupted its electricity supply to Niger, AFP reported on Wednesday from a source close to the management of the Nigerien Electricity Company (Nigelec), in accordance with the sanctions imposed by Niger’s destabilized West African neighbors.

“Nigeria disconnected since yesterday (Tuesday) the high voltage line that carries electricity to Niger,” the source said. A Nigelec agent for his part indicated that the capital, Niamey, was “supplied thanks to local production”.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), chaired by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, imposed sanctions on the putschists who deposed President-elect Mohamed Bazoum a week ago on Sunday.

ECOWAS has ordered the freeze of “all service transactions, including energy transactions” in addition to a one-week deadline to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial activities with Niger.

According to Nigelec, the country’s sole supplier, 70% of Niger’s power would be purchased from the Nigerian utility Mainstream in 2022. The Kainji dam (western Nigeria) generates electricity.

Many communities in Niamey have power outages on a regular basis, and Nigeria’s decision would exacerbate the problem.

To reduce its reliance on neighboring Nigeria for energy, Niger is seeking to complete its first dam on the same-named river by 2025. The Kandadji dam, located 180 kilometers upstream of Niamey, is expected to generate 629 gigatonnes of electricity (GWh) a year.

Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, is heavily reliant on international partners in many areas. “The sanctions will hurt our country very badly,” Nigerian Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou warned on France 24 on Sunday, as international penalties tighten.

Written by PH

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