Overview of the Extractive Industries

The Republic of Niger has large reserves of uranium and in 2003 was the fourth largest producer in the world. Although uranium exports accounted for 62% of exports by value and contributed 4.3% of government revenue in 2003, uranium-mining is a declining sector. Gold mining has been traditionally done at small scale, yet gold production started in Niger's first commercial mine at Samira in late 2004. Gold contribution to the economy remains modest. In addition, exploration for oil is underway, with indicated reserves of around 300 million barrels.

Status of EITI Implementation

Niger was accepted as a Candidate Country on 27 September 2007.

On 3 March 2010 Niger applied to extend their deadline for completing EITI Validation. The EITI Board agreed to grant Niger an extension. Peter Eigen sent a letter to the Prime Minister conveying the Board's decision. Niger has until 9 September 2010 to submit a final Validation report to the EITI Board.

Validation is underway and a draft validation report was submitted to the EITI Board in June.

On 11 March 2005 Niger's Prime Minister Hama Amadou announced that the Council of Ministers had declared its endorsement of the EITI principles. Several launch workshops were held between 5 and 7 September 2006, gathering representatives from international institutions, companies and civil society organizations.

The workshops concluded with a declaration which reiterates the adhesion of the three partners (government, civil society and extractives industries) to the principles and criteria of EITI and sets out the main configuration of the institutional structure and the key points of the implementation plan.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Mines met French President Sarkozy and EITI Chairman Peter Eigen at an EITI Roundtable in Niamey on 27 March 2009.

The first EITI report was approved by the multi-stakeholder group in October 2009.

Governance of EITI implementation

The Committee for National Concertation is the multi-stakeholder group in charge of implementation and follow up of the EITI in Niger. It is subdivided into three sub-committees: for statistics and audits, for capacity building and for communication. After the publication of a Ministerial Decree the EITI Niger Permanent Secretariat acquired management autonomy. Mr Mohamed Abdoulahi, Minister of Mines and Energy, leads the EITI multi-stakeholder group. Mr. Abdoul Aziz Askia is the Permanent Secretary and Coordinator and serves as its focal point.

EITI Niger Focal Point

Askia Abdoul Aziz
Permanent Secretary
National Committee of the EITI Niger
Email: az_askia [at] yahoo [dot] fr

Companies operating*

Oil & gas companies: CNPC (China), SIPEX Sonatrach (Algeria)

Mining companies: SOMAIR (partially owned by Areva*), COMINAK (AREVA group affiliate), SOMINA (Sino Uranium affiliate), SML (Semafo affiliate)

* Note: Company list based on EITI research and is not conclusive

Further information about the status of EITI implementation in Niger can be provided by Regional Director Marie-Ange Kalenga at the EITI International Secretariat.