Cotonou, Benin
Niger dispatches its first seaborne crude cargo
Meleck crude is a low-sulphur grade
The landlocked nation of Niger has exported its first seaborne crude cargo, with the loading and departure of a Suezmax tanker in neighbouring Benin. But Niger and Benin remain at odds and are yet to formalise a permanent transit agreement. The Front Cascade loaded 1m bl of Nigerien crude between 17 and 19 May at Benin’s Seme terminal. The two West African nations are linked by a pipeline, although the start of crude flows were delayed by the diplomatic fallout arising from Niger’s coup last year. “The Benin–Niger pipeline is a giant project... [and] we are proud of the success of the operation,” the government of Benin stated. The crude, known as Meleck, is a medium-heavy sweet grade, w
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
