Niger's Energy Minister Visits Goroubanda Site to Assess Working Conditions

On November 10, 2026, Lieutenant-Colonel Seyni Alzouma, Niger's Minister of Energy, conducted a site visit to Goroubanda, a strategic location for electricity production in the country. The visit aimed to assess the working conditions at the site and ensure the proper functioning of the energy installations. According to the Minister, this visit aligns with the ministry's approach, as per the country's highest authorities' directives. The goal is to identify necessary measures to improve electricity supply to the population.

Goroubanda is one of Niger's most important electricity production hubs, and the Minister's visit included interactions with Nigelec's technical teams and site managers. These discussions allowed the Minister to understand the realities of working conditions and identify potential improvements for electricity supply. The installations at Goroubanda are part of a plan to create self-authorized hubs, aiming to boost national electricity production and reduce dependence on external energy sources.

During the visit, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the daily work carried out by Nigelec teams at the site, which aims to improve the functioning of the power plants, often in challenging working conditions. The discussions also highlighted the difficulties faced by the teams, and the Minister committed to taking measures to address these issues and provide solutions to the problems identified.

The Goroubanda site, which primarily supplies the Niger River area, comprises thermal installations, a photovoltaic solar power plant, and a 40-megawatt Niger-Algerian power plant, known as the Niger-Algerian Friendship Plant. This plant was inaugurated in June 2026 as part of the cooperation between the Republic of Niger and the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria.

The Minister's delegation, accompanied by Algerian Ambassador Saadi Ahmed, also visited other construction sites, including the BEST1 battery energy storage system project, funded by the World Bank, and the West African Power Pool (WAPP) electricity distribution project. These projects aim to enhance energy production and distribution in the region.

The visit demonstrates the Nigerien government's commitment to improving the country's energy sector. By engaging with site managers and technical teams, the Minister can identify areas for improvement and implement measures to address the challenges faced by the energy sector. This, in turn, will contribute to enhancing the overall electricity supply to the population.

The Goroubanda site visit is part of the government's efforts to strengthen the energy sector and reduce Niger's dependence on external energy sources. With the support of international partners, such as Algeria and the World Bank, Niger aims to boost its electricity production and improve the living conditions of its population.

Key points

• The Niger-Algerian Friendship Plant, a 40-megawatt power plant, was inaugurated in June 2026 to enhance energy cooperation between the two countries.