Nigeria cuts electricity supply to Niger Republic, as sanctions mount over coup
Nigerien Electricity Company (Nigelec) of Niger Republic, Wednesday, confirmed that Nigeria has cut electricity supply to the West African neighbor, in line with the sanctions decided by the sub-regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following last week’s coup in the country which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
“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”.
Last Sunday, ECOWAS led by its Chairman and Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu decided on sanctions against the put schists who toppled President-elect Mohamed Bazoum a week ago.
In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions”.
According to a report by Nigelec, the country’s sole supplier, in 2022, 70% of Niger’s share of electricity came from purchases from the Nigerian company Mainstream.
Many neighbourhoods in the city of Niamey are normally subject to power cuts and Nigeria’s decision will aggravate this situation.
To free itself from its strong energy dependence on neighbouring Nigeria, Niger is working to complete its first dam by 2025, on the river of the same name. Some 180 km upstream from Niamey, the Kandadji dam should generate 629 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually.
Niger, is dependent on its foreign partners in many areas. “The sanctions will hurt our country very badly,” Nigerien Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou said on France 24 on Sunday, as sanctions are increasing internationally.
