NIAMEY - Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine has officially inaugurated oil exploitation activities by the National Petroleum Company (SONIDEP), marking a significant step in the country's development of its natural resources. The operations began in the Bilma and Agadem blocks on June 22, 2024, as a major national endeavor.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Prime Minister described the launch as "a great moment of national pride which charts the development path revealing Nigerien expertise in oil exploration and exploitation." SONIDEP's General Director, Ali Seibou Hassane, highlighted the strategic importance of these blocks, noting that their exploitation "will make their exploitation a real boon for the development of our dear country." He emphasized the long-term benefits, including local job creation and the utilization of local goods and services in the oil industry.