Oil: Niger gives CNPC, WAPCO, and SORAZ 45 days to repatriate over 3 trillion CFA francs

The Nigerien committee tasked with negotiating with Chinese oil companies granted a 45-day deadline on October 13, 2026, to CNPC, WAPCO, and SORAZ to correct a series of failures, starting with the non-repatriation of crude oil export revenues. The statement was read by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakary Yaou Sangaré, who chairs the committee, following a meeting with the three companies, reports La Nouvelle Tribune.

Over 3 trillion CFA francs demanded

According to the committee, as cited by La Nouvelle Tribune, only 105 billion CFA francs have been repatriated in two years, while more than 3 trillion CFA francs in export revenues have reportedly not been. This sum corresponds to the share due to the Nigerien state once a 400 million dollar loan, to which 80% of oil revenues had been allocated, was repaid in 2024. Niamey is demanding rectified statements and the implementation of the repatriation mechanism proposed by the BCEAO.

Jobs, reserves, and refinery

The committee also highlights employment: the recruitment of Nigeriens was supposed to begin as soon as the protocol was signed, with a four-year plan to gradually replace expatriates. However, 558 expatriates are still working at the sites operated by CNPC and, according to the committee, nothing has been initiated. Another grievance: the reserves of the Agadem block, exploited since 2011, have not been certified by an independent firm since 2008. Finally, the Zinder refinery is operating at 15,000 barrels per day, which is 75% of its nominal capacity of 20,000 barrels, a fact the committee lists among the causes of fuel supply tensions. In total, failures have been noted regarding the 45 commitments of the partnership protocol signed on May 18, 2026.

A standoff that began in 2025

The dispute is not new. In March 2025, military authorities ordered the leaders of CNPC, WAPCO, and SORAZ to leave the country within 48 hours, citing non-compliance with local content rules. A negotiation committee was created by decree on July 29, 2025, followed by nearly a year of talks leading to the May 2026 protocol: the transport tariff via the Niger-Benin pipeline was reduced from 27 to 15 dollars per barrel, and the Nigerien state obtained an agreement in principle to acquire a 45% stake in WAPCO.

The climate has become even more tense since September 25, 2026: crude oil and gas have been leaking from the Goumeri W8 well in the Agadem block operated by CNPC, an incident that the Nigerien Ministry of Petroleum describes as having "exceptional" severity and which is currently under investigation.

The 45-day deadline runs until the end of November 2026. No sanctions have been announced at this stage. Beyond the figures, this is a question that many producing states on the continent are asking: under what conditions does oil rent actually return to the country that owns the deposit, and who verifies what comes out of the ground?