This Video Does Not Feature Oil Discoveries in Niger Recently
The Claim
News posted on
Emerging story
Recently, social media users circulated a video clip purporting to display huge oil discoveries in Niger.
A user of the "X" platform, previously "Twitter," expressed the opinion that the presence of newly discovered oil in Niger is a reason why both France and the United States are reluctant to release their hold on the country, stating, "This is why French and the US will not let Niger go. They just discovered oil. And they will not let the Africans use the natural resource for themselves. Nothing to do with Democrats in the country."
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the widely circulating footage and found the claim to be misleading.
A thorough reverse image search revealed the video making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to Niger.
This Is Not a Video of Oil Discoveries in Niger
Contrary to viral claims, the circulating video does not feature recent oil discoveries in Niger. A thorough reverse image search conducted by Misbar's team led to similar video clips shared in Arabic, displaying the oil flow in Libya in June 2021.
Agency Arab Center outlet’s Facebook account published the video on June 27, 2021, under the translated caption, “a video showing the flow of #oil in the Libyan #southern desert.”
Furthermore, different Facebook pages uploaded the identical video on June 27, 2021, with a caption resembling the information that the video was filmed in Libya.
Libya's 2022 Oil Revenues Surge to $22 Billion
In 2022, Libya's oil revenues increased to 105.5 billion Libyan dinars ($22.01 billion) from 103.4 billion dinars in 2021, according to the Central Bank of Libya (CBL). The CBL allotted 34.4 billion dinars to the state oil firm (NOC) for temporary financial arrangements. The NOC is the sole legitimate oil producer, and its export earnings are managed by the CBL to support the public sector.
Total spending reached 127.9 billion dinars, a 49% rise from 2021, covering various sectors funded by the public treasury. The CBL aims for transparency and revealed public salary payments of 47.1 billion dinars, up from 33.1 billion in 2021. Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, Libya has faced instability, with energy facilities frequently targeted by rival factions.
Regional Sanctions Don't Affect the Niger Oil Pipeline
At the beginning of August, Benin authorities stated that the regional sanctions imposed on Niger by the West African bloc due to the recent military coup have not yet had an impact on the progress of a significant oil pipeline connecting the two countries. However, there is a possibility of a delay. Despite this, Niger, which currently has a daily oil production of around 20,000 barrels, aims to increase its output to 110,000 barrels per day. Out of this, approximately 90,000 barrels per day will be transported through the pipeline for export.
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a group consisting of 15 member states, enforced stringent sanctions on Niger. These measures include closing borders and suspending all financial and commercial interactions with the nation. Furthermore, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) canceled a planned 30-billion-CFA-franc ($51 million) bond issuance by Niger on Monday.
Shell Nigeria Checks Potential Leak in Trans Niger Oil Pipeline
Shell's Nigerian operations, listed as SHEL.L, are currently investigating a potential leak on the Trans Niger oil pipeline. This pipeline traverses the Bodo community in Rivers State. The alert about this possible issue was received on August 18.
In the southern oil-producing region of Nigeria, theft of oil and sabotage of pipelines are frequent occurrences. Shell often attributes spills to pipeline vandalism and the illegal tapping of crude oil.
This pipeline, with a capacity of 180,000 barrels per day, is one of two channels used for exporting Bonny Light crude, Nigeria's largest oil producer. The cause of the suspension of the Forcados pipeline is still undetermined, pending a joint investigation involving company and community representatives along with government agencies.
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