Algeria has sent a technical team from its state-owned utility Sonelgaz to Niamey to prepare for the construction of a new gas-fired power plant, targeting Niger’s persistent electricity shortages. The delegation arrived on February 27 and has begun site visits and coordination meetings with NIGELEC.
The mission focuses on assessing the Gorou Banda site, evaluating grid connections, and determining the technical specifications for the two planned 20-megawatt gas turbines. No construction start date has been confirmed. The initiative follows a February 18 videoconference between Sonelgaz and NIGELEC, during which both parties agreed to accelerate operational preparations.
The project is part of Niger’s broader efforts to expand electricity access, which remains low at roughly 20% of the population as of 2023, according to World Bank. Installed generation capacity was estimated at about 400 megawatts in 2024. The country heavily depends on imports from Nigeria, which cut electricity exports by 42% in April 2025, leaving Niger with only 46 megawatts per day from the previous 80-megawatt supply.
In addition to the planned gas plant, Niger has completed several solar and thermal facilities totaling more than 100 megawatts between 2024 and 2025. The partnership with Algeria is intended to diversify energy sources, strengthen domestic production, and reduce vulnerability to external supply shocks.
