The Nigerien government has decided to nationalise the exploitation of its drinking water, ending its contract with the French company Veolia and its subsidiary the Niger Water Exploitation Company (SEEN), after the adoption of a draft decree of the statutes of the new State Company called “Nigerien des Eaux” in the Council of Ministers.
According to the information on SEEN website, “ for more than 15 years, in close collaboration with the public authorities and regulators of Niger’s water sector, SEEN has been developing a service to access drinking water in urban and semi-urban centres of the country. 54 cities and villages spread throughout the territory.”
The parent company, Veolia’s withdrawal from Niger will end a particularly painful period for the French utilities group. Its relations with the Nigerien authorities have deteriorated sharply since the July coup, with the group’s grievances including several million euros in unpaid invoices.
The leasing contract expired on December 31. Nigerien des Eaux takes over from SEEN to ensure the operation, production and distribution of drinking water in all urban and semi-urban centres of the country.
The purpose of this draft decree is therefore to satisfy this requirement and thus enable Nigerien des Eaux to have the organisational and operating rules to accomplish its missions.
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