Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who paid a one-day official visit to the West African country Niger, met with his Niger counterpart Bakary Yaou Sangare after the joint working group meeting held in the capital Niamey on 17 July 2024. Minister Fidan was accompanied by Yaşar Güler, Minister of National Defence, Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, İbrahim Kalın, Chief of Intelligence, Haluk Görgün, President of Defence Industries and Özgür Volkan, Deputy Minister of Trade.[1]
It can be said that the diplomatic accumulations that have been going on for years in the African region have now become active. In recent years, power changes in Africa have created power shifts or power gaps in many regions, especially in the Sahara region. In the region, which has become one of the areas of soft power implementation as required by Turkey’s foreign policy, apart from the establishment of cultural bridges, Turkey is also advancing its infrastructure works, construction activities and economic activities. With the establishment of the “Confederation of Sahel States” declared in recent years, it has led to a change in the power axis previously formed by isolating Western countries, especially France, in the region.
In recent years, the presence of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Alparslan Bayraktar, in important foreign policy contacts has been one of the sharp indications that “energy diplomacy” is now an effective and main element of dialogue. It is known that Ethiopia, which is on the agenda with its hydroelectric power plant, has a trade volume of 3 billion dollars with Turkey, especially in the construction sector.[2] In the same way, it is also known that the Turkish private sector’s initiatives and investments in Libya have been the most valuable initiatives that have enabled us to build bridges in diplomacy. In the light of these examples, increasing public and private sector co-operation is seen as a “springboard” especially for African countries that are in the position of “undeveloped countries”. The biggest difference between energy diplomacy and security diplomacy is that rapid and sudden geopolitical transitions are more possible in energy diplomacy.
Without any public diplomacy or diplomatic contact, Turkey continues to invest in infrastructure or energy in Africa through the private sector. Therefore, we see the most striking examples of the protection of the country’s public resources in the African continent. Our total trade with the African continent has increased from USD 5.4 billion in 2003 to USD 25.3 billion by the end of 2020. Our trade volume with Sub-Saharan Africa (SAA) countries, which was 1.35 billion dollars in 2003, reached 10 billion dollars in 2020. Despite the pandemic conditions, keeping the trade volume at a stable level in 2020 is seen as an important achievement.
The volume of projects undertaken by Turkish contracting companies grew rapidly and reached 71.1 billion USD in Africa. Of this, $19.5 billion is located in SAA countries. Turkey’s direct investments (stock) in Africa have increased from $100 million in 2003 to more than $6.5 billion in 2019. According to a report published in the Financial Times in October 2015; it was noted that Turkish investments create the most employment among foreign direct investments in Africa.[3] Analysing this data shows how effective the use of soft power is in investments, especially in the geographies of underdeveloped countries.
The richness of energy resources and their suitability for utilisation stand out in the news covered in the Turkish public opinion during the Niger meeting. Although Niger has rich and diverse energy resources, these resources have not been sufficiently utilised. These resources include biomass (firewood and agricultural waste, the main source used by households for cooking), uranium, mineral coal, oil, natural gas, hydropower and solar energy. For example, in the northern region of Agadez there are uranium reserves estimated at about 450,000 tonnes.
Niger’s uranium exploitation was started in the 1970s by two companies of the French AREVA Group. A third mine is operated by SOMINA (Azelik Mining Company), which was established in 2007 and became operational in 2010. The company is 37.2% owned by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), 33% by SOPAMIN, 24.8% by Chinese ZXJOY Invest and 0.5% by Korea Resources Corporation (KORES). Production started in 2011 with 100 tonnes of uranium metal and reached an annual capacity of 700 tonnes in 2015. These three companies produce an average of 5,000 tonnes per year, making Niger the largest uranium producer in Africa and the fourth largest in the world. Founded in 2009, IMOURAREN is owned by the French AREVA Group (66.65%), SOPAMIN (23.35%) and the State of Niger (10%). The company was scheduled to open in 2012 with an annual production capacity of 5,000 tonnes, but due to institutional changes the project did not start.[4]
Coal reserves in the north of Niger amount to more than 90 million tonnes. Salkadamna in the Tahoua region has reserves of about 70 million tonnes. A development project is planned to produce coal briquettes for electricity generation and cooking energy. At Anou Araren, in the Agadez region, there is another 18 million tonnes of coal mined since 1976. This coal is used in a thermal power plant supplying electricity to the northern region.[5]
Niger’s oil reserves are estimated at more than one billion barrels. Oil production started at the end of 2011 with the commissioning of oil fields in the Agadem block in the eastern basin. This field is operated by the Chinese company CNPC on the basis of a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) signed with the Government of Niger. The oil produced is a light oil with a density above 30° API. The oil is transported via a 420 km pipeline to Zinder, where it is processed in a refinery with a capacity of 20,000 barrels per day. The products produced are distributed by the Niger Hydrocarbon Company (SONIDEP). Refined products are mainly gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied natural gas (LPG). Natural gas reserves in Niger’s territory are estimated at approximately 18.6 billion m³. However, exploitation of these reserves has not yet started.[6]
Niger’s hydroelectric potential is estimated at 280.5 MW. Of this potential, 130 MW is located at Kandadji, 122.5 MW at Gambou on the Niger River and 26 MW at Dyondyonga in Mekrou. Suitable locations for micro hydro on seasonal rivers and tributaries of the Niger River have also been identified. Solar energy potential exists throughout Niger. The average insolation level is 5 to 7 kW/m²/day with an average of 8.5 hours of sunshine. Considering that the average sunshine duration in Turkey is 6-7 hours, it can be said how rich Niger is in terms of energy. Wind speeds ranging from 2.5 m/s in the south to 5 m/s in the north are suitable for the use of wind turbines for pumping water.[7]
In the light of this information, it is possible for Turkish companies to have a presence in the Central Sahara and Sub-Saharan countries, especially in Niger and Mali. It is stated by experts that the key to this is the preparation of serious research reports with serious, detailed and up-to-date data. In addition, industrial investments, especially in solar energy, can pave the way for providing serious resources in these countries. On the other hand, while the allegations on uranium were denied by the Turkish Communications Directorate, the signing of the declaration of intent on oil and natural gas is seen as a strong foundation stone.[8]
[1] “Turkish foreign minister attends joint working group meeting in Niger.”, AA, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/turkish-foreign-minister-attends-joint-working-group-meeting-in-niger/3277826, (Access Date: 17.07.2024).
[2] “Etiyopya’da Türk Yatırımları 3 Milyar Dolara Yaklaştı”, Dış Ekonomik İlişkiler Kurulu, https://www.deik.org.tr/basin-aciklamalari-etiyopya-da-turk-yatirimlari-3-milyar-dolara-yaklasti, (Access Date: 17.07.2024).
[3] “TÜRKİYE-AFRİKA TİCARİ VE EKONOMİK İLİŞKİLERİ”, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ticaret Bakanlığı, http://tabef.org/tr/bilateral-relations.html, (Access Date: 17.07.2024).
[4] “The Energy Sector of Niger: Perspectives and Opportunities.”, Energy Charter Secretariat Knowledge Centre- By. Mr. Salifou GADO.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] “Nijer ile Petrol ve Doğal Gaz Alanında İlişkiler Güçleniyor”, T.C. Enerji ve Tabii Kaynaklar Bakanlığı, https://enerji.gov.tr/haber-detay?id=21331, (Access Date: 17.07.2024).
