Developing Africa’s energy potential and integrating power supply systems for sustainable development in African countries (case of Niger)

Outline Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..….…3 Development of the AGADEM oil and gas fields……………………….……..…..…..3 Construction of a 330 KV high-voltage interconnection line linking Agadem- Zinder-Tahoua-Filingué-Niamey…………………………………...…..………………...4 Project feasibility ……………………………………………..……………………………………4 Advantages………………………………………………..………………….……………..………..5 Prospects……….……………………………………………….…………………………..………… 5

Introduction The electricity crisis Niger is going through is structural by nature. It is linked, on the one hand, to the inadequacy and instability of the electrical power generation in Nigeria, which is providing Niger almost full supply, and to the deficiency and obsolescence of the equipment for electrical power transmission between Nigeria and Niger.

The local production of electricity accounts for approximately one third of the overall consumption. It is generated through the combustion of imported hydrocarbons, with very low generation capacities for a very high cost per kWh. And this is a hindrance to industrial development. Joint reflections must be initiated to seek the appropriate solution that will enable Niger to generate cheap electrical power required for its long-term economic and social development. This contribution is made from this angle.

Development of the AGADEM Oil and Gas Fields The development of the Agadem oil fields gave evidence of the existence of 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Agadem. This development is still underway and several oil companies are seeking exploration permits for the Agadem block. This proven quantity of gas will enable electricity generation on Agadem in large supply and over the long term. As of May 2010, the national electrical power demand recorded is about 150 MW. The strong scenario-based prospective studies anticipate the demand of electricity to be of 1260 MW by 2030 in Niger.

Given the large quantity of gas available in Agadem, a thermal gas combined cycle power station of 500 MW may be built to start with. The power generated at the Agadem power station will be conveyed to points of use by a 330 KV transmission line Also, Niger, Algeria and Nigeria have entered into a cooperation agreement to build a trans-Saharan pipeline connecting them to Europe. Under this agreement, Niger may access a large of quantity of gas to cover its needs. This additional resource will supply fuel to new power plants.

Construction of a 330-KV high-voltage line linking Agadem-Zinder-Tahoua-Filingué-Niamey The transmission line for the power generated in Agadem will be about 1516-km long, breaking down as follows: Agadem-Zinder, 616 km; Zinder-Tahoua, 460 km; Tahoua- Filingué, 240 km; Filingué-Niamey, 200 km. The layout of the 330-KV electricity transmission line will be exactly the same as the layout of the pipeline linking Agadem to Zinder over 460 km. In Zinder, this line will be combined to the existing 132-KV Zinder-Gazaoua-Maradi line to supply the Zinder, Maradi and Tahoua regions and possibly part of Northern Nigeria.

Oil refining in Zinder will generate tons of liquefied gas (LPG) per year, which may be used to supply fuel for another combined cycle power plant generating 60-MW that will be connected to the 330-KV grid. In Tahoua, the 330-KV line will be combined to the existing network to supply the Tahoua region and, possibly, the Agadez region with the construction of a 132-kV connecting line for Zinder-Tchirozérine. The future Salkadamna power plant, which will eventually generate 200-MW power, will be connected to the 330- KV line. The 330-KV line will reach Niamey via Filingué where significant coal indices have been identified.

In Niamey, the 330-KV line will supply the Niamey and Tillabéry regions as well as Niger’s neighbouring countries through the connection to the Northern WAPP electricity backbone, which will consist in building a 330-KV line between Birni Kebbi (Nigeria) - Zabori (Niger) - Niamey (Niger) -Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and feeder line from Zabori (Niger) to Bembéréké (Bénin). The future Kandadji hydropower plant, which will eventually generate 130-MW power, will be connected to the 330-KV line.

Feasibility of the project The project for construction of a natural gas-fired power plant in Agadem, with an outgoing 330-KV power line on the Agadem- Zinder-Tahoua-Filingué-Niamey axis is technically feasible and economically justifiable. Advantages This project will help meet definitely and over the long term the power requirements necessary for Niger’s economic and social development. It will serve as an integration factor by enabling Niger to integrate the West African Power Pool system, get involved in the future ECOWAS electricity market and turn Niger into power pole which will eventually be in a position to export electricity to neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, Burkina-Faso and Benin, thanks to its considerable energy potential, especially the Agadem natural gas.

Currently, there are several financing opportunities due to the fact the resolution of electrical power issues in Africa stands high on the agenda of international financial institutions such as UEMOA, AfDB, the World Bank, etc. The recent final declaration of the 25th France-Africa Summit is a case in point. In the context of a mutually fruitful cooperation, this project is of interest to the Russian company GAZPROM, which made a declaration of intent of collaborative effort involving GAZPROM and the State of Niger.

Prospects This contribution provides an avenue which, we hope, will be widened through your reflections so as to bring the authorities in charge of solving energy issues to support technical, bold and ambitious solutions.