Niger strips French nuclear company of uranium mine

(MENAFN) Niger’s military-led government has declared the nationalization of the Somair uranium mine, previously operated by the French state-owned nuclear energy company Orano. The announcement follows the expiration of Orano’s mining agreement in December 2023 and mounting accusations of illegal conduct by the company.

The Somair mine, located in Niger’s northern Arlit region and in operation since 1971, has been at the center of a worsening dispute. Niger’s authorities claim Orano, which is majority-owned by the French government, has acted unlawfully and unilaterally disconnected the mine from its global IT systems on December 4, 2023, effectively halting operations without prior notice.

In a statement aired by national broadcaster RTN, Niger’s government said it had decided to nationalize Somair “in full sovereignty,” citing the need for better, fairer management of the country’s natural resources for the benefit of the Nigerien people.

Tensions between Niamey and Paris have escalated since Niger’s July 2023 coup, which prompted France to end military cooperation and withdraw troops. The government has since launched a broader review of foreign mining contracts, aligning with similar efforts in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea to increase state revenues from natural resources.

Previously, Orano held a 63.4% stake in the Somair venture, with the rest owned by the Nigerien state. The company has pushed back, filing multiple international arbitration claims, especially after Nigerien forces reportedly raided its offices, seized equipment, and arrested one of its executives in May.

Niger is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer and supplies 15–17% of the uranium used in France’s nuclear energy sector, according to the World Nuclear Association.

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