Niger Reports Severe Environmental Incident After Oil Well Blowout

Niger has reported an environmental incident of “exceptional severity” after a major oil and gas blowout at a well in the country’s remote eastern desert, the petroleum ministry has said.

The blowout occurred on September 25 at the Goumeri W8 oil well, about 1,700 kilometres from the capital, Niamey, according to a ministry statement broadcast on national television on Monday.

The ministry said large quantities of crude oil and gas had been released, with the material shooting more than 10 metres into the air. Television footage showed oil gushing from the well and spreading across the surrounding ground.

As of Monday, the situation was partially contained but remained out of control, the ministry said.

The cause of the incident had not been fully established, although the ministry ruled out criminal or terrorist involvement. An investigation was underway with assistance from Algerian experts.

The well is operated by CNPC Niger Petroleum, a local subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, the Chinese state-owned energy company.

Niger has produced oil since 2011 and extracts and refines tens of thousands of barrels daily, particularly in the Agadem region.

The incident comes as the country faces security challenges under a military government that took power in a 2023 coup. An armed group opposed to the government has carried out sporadic attacks on the pipeline transporting Nigerien crude to neighbouring Benin.

SOURCE: AFP