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NIAMEY, September 27 (Reuters) – Niger has temporarily stopped issuing permits for deliveries of petroleum products to neighboring Mali unless they are destined for the United Nations peacekeeping mission there, the government said. government.
In a September 21 statement seen by Reuters on Tuesday, Niger said it would also revoke permits already issued, but did not specify the reasons for the suspension.
The move echoes tensions between the two West African countries that have escalated since military officers seized power in Mali in August 2020 and began collaborating with Russian mercenaries to fight Islamist militants.
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The United Nations has a peacekeeping mission in Mali to help stem the insurgency.
Niger is one of the few countries in West Africa that refines enough fuel for its local market from a small oil refinery with a capacity of around 20,000 barrels per day (bpd). Excess production is exported to other countries in the region.
Mali’s industry and trade minister Mohamed Ould Mahmoud told Reuters the impact of Niger’s decision would be minimal.
Mali mainly imports petroleum products from Ivory Coast and Senegal via Togo, according to national statistics.
“It could have an impact on the northern regions… but even there, imports from Algeria are more significant,” Mahmoud said.
Niger cut its refined fuel exports by 75% in early May to protect and increase national stocks amid rising global fuel prices caused by the war in Ukraine.
He then banned refined fuel exports with immediate effect in June, saying his efforts were being offset by petrol stations making “fraudulent” international sales of refined fuel for local consumption.
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Reporting by Boureima Balima with additional reporting by Tiemoko Diallo in Bamako Writing by Sofia Christensen Editing by James Macharia Chege and Mark Heinrich
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