Covid-19 ruins CNPC's Niger-Benin pipeline plans for 2020

摘要

The state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) has been eagerly awaiting the next shipment of equipment from China that will go to build the export pipeline from the Agadem fields in Niger to the Beninese port of Semè. But it may not arrive at the Beninese port of Cotonou before November or even December, much to the chagrin of the ruling Parti nigérien pour la démocratie et le socialisme (PNDS) and its candidate for the December presidential election, Mohamed Bazoum. So far, just one ship loaded with pipes totalling around 100 km - out of a total of 1,980 km needed - has arrived. It docked at the start of the year, before the Covid-19 epidemic exploded. CNPC plans to eventually export 97,000 bpd via the pipeline, which is now likely to go into operation a year later than its planned January 2022 debut due to the health crisis.