Image from The Northafricapost

Niger is expected to increase its oil production five-fold thanks to a pipeline linking the country to Benin, which will start operating in April.

Niger military ruler had announced that the initial shipment would take place in January this year but sources told S&P Global Commodity Insights that first oil deliveries will only take place in April.

The lifting of sanctions by the ECOWAS on Niger enabled China National Petroleum Corporation to complete construction of the 2,000 km pipeline and crude was flowing through the conduit last week. 

The removal of sanctions ended restrictions such as the no-fly zone, border closures, and financial constraints on state assets, including Niger’s state-owned Sonidep.

The pipeline would help Niger increase production from 20,000 barrels daily to 100,000 barrels, offering the landlocked country an export route.