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Niger expelled Chinese oil execs over local-expatriate pay gap, minister says

Oil Minister Sahabi Omarou announced that the Niger had expelled three Chinese oil executives over a dispute regarding disparities in salaries between expatriate employees and local workers who were paid less.

Last week, it was reported that the Niger junta ordered three Chinese oil officials to leave within 48-hours.

The officials included directors from the West African Oil Pipeline Company, the China National Petroleum Corporation and the joint venture SORAZ.

Oumarou, a journalist on Wednesday, said: "We're not satisfied with how wealth is divided between the Niger state and its partner."

He said that the average salary for a Chinese worker in Niger was $8,678 a month, while it was $1,200 if he were a Nigerian in the same position.

He said that there was a concentration of expatriates working in management positions while Nigeriens were more likely to be employed as operators or workers.

The minister said that despite several attempts to resolve the problem, the disparities persisted and led to the expulsions.

He told reporters at the press conference that "we are always open to discussion".

WAPCo and CNPC didn't immediately respond to requests for comments. SORAZ was not available for comment.

In the restive Sahel, several governments - such as Niger and Burkina Faso - are trying to gain more control over their natural resources.

In 2008, the Niger and China signed a $5 billion oil development agreement in the east of Niger.

The junta led West African nation and CNPC have signed a $400-million memorandum for oil shipments in the Agadem field. Boureima Balima Reporting and Additional reporting by Ayen deng Bior Editing Sofia Christensen Andrew Heavens

(source: Reuters)