By Yemi Olakitan
The Niger Republic Government has temporarily stopped issuing authorisations for oil product deliveries to neighboring Mali unless they are destined to the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
In a statement dated Sept. 21 and seen by Reuters on Tuesday, Niger said it would also revoke authorisations that had already been issued, but did not specify reasons for the suspension.
Niger is one of the few countries in West Africa that refines enough fuel for its local market from a small oil refinery with capacity of around 20,000 barrels-per-day (bpd).
Excess production is exported to other countries in the region.
The U.N. has a peacekeeping mission in Mali to help fight an Islamist insurgency.
A Mali government spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Niger reduced refined fuel exports by 75 per cent in May to protect and boost national stocks amid a global rise in fuel prices caused by the war in Ukraine.
It then banned refined fuel exports with immediate effect in June, claiming its efforts were being offset by petrol stations making “fraudulent” international sales of refined fuel meant for local consumption.
