For years, Niger and China are friendly nations bound by a strong win-win cooperation covering various fields. China is Niger’s primary partner in terms of investments. On the international stage, Niger and China maintain excellent cooperation and mutually support each other. The two countries share a common vision of tirelessly working towards building a better, just, and equitable world. Notable examples include the exploitation of Niger’s oil by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) since 2011, marked by the launch of the Zinder Refinery Company (SORAZ) on November 1, 2023. This achievement was made possible by the construction of a roughly 2000 km-long pipeline from the Agadem oil fields in Niger to the port of Sèmè in Benin, constituting the longest pipeline in Africa.
It is crucial to note that Niger benefits from the investments of CNPC’ projects. Contrasting with European and American oil companies which only focus on investing in exploration and development of oil and natural gas, CNPC aims to help the host country build a complete industrial system through investment in not only upstream resource exploration and exploitation but also pipelines and refineries in the downstream. In addition, as a corporate citizen of African communities, CNPC has been committed to fulfilling its social responsibilities and promoting cultural exchange between China and Niger to cement public support for building a China-Niger community with a shared future. Dedicated to seeking win-win cooperation rather than simply obtaining resources from Niger, CNPC has continued unremitting efforts to blaze a trail for the local oil industry and contribute to local economic and social development based on technological and management experience accumulated over years. Oil cooperation projects are serving as bridges of friendship between CNPC and Niger.
However, from this year, Niger has announced a series of measures to tighten its oil cooperation with CNPC, citing CNPC’s failure to implement local content reforms and demanding a greater national presence in the sector. The deterioration of relations between China and Niger can lead to a breach of contract given that Chinese firms are entitled to recoup their investment. In June 2025, Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi hosted a high-level delegation from Niger in Beijing, urging them to handle the disputes with CNPC “properly and through dialogue” and reminding them of Beijing’s expectation that they “ensure the safety and rights of Chinese companies and citizens in Niger.”While till now, the tensions still exist.
Investments rely on upholding the rule of law, stability, independent courts and means of arbitration, transparency, and predictability. Such environments are more committed to respecting contracts and protecting investors from arbitrary rules and decrees. When the rule of law is arbitrary, investors are at constant risk. The nature and quality of governance should be key considerations in investment decisions. In this matter, both of China and Niger need a reliable means of dispute resolution.