Niger Industry Sectors
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Niger Industry Sectors: Niger Industries
The mining industry plays an important role in Niger’s industry sector. Niger has extensive resources of gold, coal, oil and other minerals and its ability to exploit them successfully is important for the country’s future growth. Other major industries in Niger are cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals and slaughterhouses.[br]
Niger Industry Sectors: Niger Industries
Mining remains the main industry in Niger, with uranium being the biggest contributor. In addition, several small units manufacturing food products, textiles, farm equipment, and metal furniture have mushroomed. However, only 6% of Niger’s population is employed in the various industries, which contribute nearly 17% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Global demand for uranium and its prices are the main drivers of Niger’s uranium industry. The country has uranium mines in Arlit, Akuota and Tassa. Most of these mines are controlled by SOMAIR, a French controlled company, and Compagnie Minière d’Akouta (COMINAK), a company owned partly by the government of Niger and partly by foreign interests.
In addition to uranium, exploitable deposits of gold, phosphates, coal, iron, limestone and gypsum have been found in Niger. Several foreign companies, including American firms, have taken exploration licenses for the exploration of gold and other mineral deposits. In June 2007, China’s state-owned company China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a $5 billion agreement to extract oil in the Agadem block, besides building a 20,000 barrels per day oil refinery and a 2,000 km oil pipeline in the country. Niger is also known to have some coal reserves which have low energy and high ash content and thus cannot compete with high quality coal available on the world market. A significant portion of Niger’s oil requirement is met through imports. Locally mined coal and imported oil are used to generate a significant amount of Niger’s electricity requirement, with the rest being imported from Nigeria and other nations.[br]
Niger’s service industry is highly efficient and contributes nearly 45% of the country’s GDP while employing only about 5% of its population. The country’s livestock and agricultural segments are other important sources of foreign exchange earnings. Niger’s communications and other service segments have also been opened up for private investment.
