COTONOU -- The Beninese government has approved negotiations between Benin and China's China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company LTD for the Niger-Benin export pipeline project in Benin. we learned from a statement from the Beninese government published Wednesday in Cotonou. According to the same source, the beninese government's approval follows the signing of the bilateral agreement between Benin and Niger in January 2019 on the construction and operation of a hydrocarbon transport system by pipeline. "These structuring investments will make Benin a hub for crude oil exports while strengthening the operational capacities of benin's oil sector players," the same source said.