NIAMEY, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Niger's SORAZ refinery, a joint venture between the state and China National Petroleum Corporation CNPET.UL , refined 397,000 tonnes of crude oil in the first half of 2013, the company said, keeping it on track to meet a year-end production target.

The company also posted revenue of $292 million on the sale of 353,000 tonnes of petroleum products, SORAZ said in a statement. Government taxes were over $62 million during the period.

SORAZ, Niger's sole refinery, is aiming to refine 800,000 tonnes of crude this year.

Niger, a major uranium miner but one of Africa's poorest nations, joined the continent's club of oil-producing countries when it started pumping oil from its Agadem oil fields in 2011.

Oil from the fields supplies the 20,000 bpd capacity SORAZ refinery in Zinder, 700 km east of the capital, Niamey, which is 60 percent owned by CNPC with Niger owning the remaining 40 percent.

Under the partnership, 7,000 tonnes of SORAZ's output is destined for the domestic market while the rest is earmarked for export.

The refinery did not meet its production targets last year. Output from CNPC's Agadem wells failed to meet expectations, leaving SORAZ to operate below capacity.

CNPC has promised to bring three new wells online this year to make up for the shortfall.

(Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki; Writing by Joe Bavier)

((joe.bavier@thomsonreuters.com)(+225 07074101)(Reuters Messaging: joe.bavier.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: NIGER OIL/REFINERY