NIAMEY, Niger (SCANS) — Indonesia’s state oil company Pertamina is eyeing a foothold in Niger’s largely untapped petroleum sector, with the two countries moving toward a joint venture aimed at quadrupling the West African nation’s oil output to 400,000 barrels per day by 2030.
Indonesian Ambassador Bambang Suharto signaled Pertamina’s interest during meetings with officials at Niger’s Ministry of Petroleum, proposing a partnership built on technology transfer and expanded exploration.
“Seventy percent of Niger’s surface area lies within a sedimentary basin, but only 6% has been explored to date,” said Abdoul Karim Mohamed Ali, secretary general of Niger’s Ministry of Petroleum, who described the country’s untapped reserves as a “dormant potential.
“Niger currently produces roughly 110,000 barrels per day from a single active production block — a figure the secretary general said represents just 11% of the potential identified within the narrow slice of territory explored so far.
Of the country’s 45 oil blocks, nine are under exploration and only one is in production.
Pertamina, which already operates in Iraq, Algeria and Nigeria, would bring both capital and technical expertise to the proposed venture.
Suharto pointed to Indonesia’s recent inauguration of a mega-refinery with a capacity of 330,000 barrels per day as evidence of his country’s capacity as a serious energy partner.
Niger has attracted growing international interest in its oil sector, with Chinese firms and regional players already active in the market.
Indonesian involvement would further diversify the pool of investors as Niamey seeks to break what officials describe as de facto monopolies limiting sector growth.
Reaching the 2030 production target will require significant new investment in a country that, despite having formally joined the ranks of oil exporters, remains in the early stages of developing its hydrocarbon resources.
