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After talks with China, Benin eases oil export ban against Niger
- Meetings with Chinese delegation lead to relief in trade row between neighbours, signalling Beijing’s growing role as mediator in Africa, analysts say
- To repay US$400 million loan from Chinese company, landlocked Niger must send crude through Benin’s Seme port, but dispute has delayed shipments
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A ship carrying a million barrels of crude oil from Niger left Benin’s Seme port for China on Sunday, marking temporary relief in a trade row between the African neighbours as well as Beijing’s latest gain in mediating disputes on the continent.
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The move came after a Chinese delegation, including from state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), held talks with Beninese President Patrice Talon on Wednesday, shortly after his country blocked landlocked Niger from exporting its oil to China through the port.
Observers said the quick resolution pointed to China’s economic and diplomatic leverage in both countries and Beijing’s growing skills as a mediator, allowing it to protect Chinese investments in volatile environments.
CNPC has invested US$4.6 billion in Niger’s petroleum industry, and its subsidiary PetroChina owns two-thirds of the country’s Agadem oilfield. It also bankrolled and built a 2,000km (1,240-mile) pipeline to move oil from the oilfield to Benin’s Atlantic port of Seme.
Last month, Niger’s military junta signed a US$400 million oil-backed loan with CNPC requiring repayment in crude oil shipments.
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Niger has been transporting crude oil to Seme port via the pipeline since April, but Benin’s ban has delayed the oil from reaching China.
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