- China Gezhouba Group Co. Ltd. (CGGC) has called force majeure and suspended construction activity on the 130MW Kandadji dam in Niger following a military coup in the country.
- The US$808 million project is located about 180 kilometres northwest of the capital Niamey.
- The announcement came after the July 26 military takeover of the country that led to the ouster of its elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Since then, international organizations including the European Union, the World Bank, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have halted economic aid or commercial transactions with Niger
“We find ourselves forced to halt all our construction activities,” China Gezhouaba Group said in a letter to a local work inspection body. The letter said the military takeover on 26 July and ensuing economic sanctions caused it to declare force majeure on the project.
Local contracts will be progressively terminated after due salaries are paid, the company added, promising to give redundant employees priority for re-hire once construction resumes.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
