African state strips French nuclear giant of uranium mine
Niger’s military government has announced plans to nationalize Somair uranium, a local venture operated by French state-owned nuclear fuels company Orano, amid an escalating dispute between the miner and the West African nation.
The authorities cited alleged illegal actions by Orano as justification for their decision, adding that the most recent mining agreement between Niger and the French mining giant expired in December 2023. The Somair uranium mine in the northern Arlit region has been in operation since 1971.
“Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior by Orano – a company owned by the French state, which has been openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 – the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somair,” national broadcaster RTN reported, citing a statement issued after a meeting of the Nigerien Council of Ministers on Thursday.
“This nationalization will allow for healthier and more sustainable management of the company and, consequently, optimal enjoyment of the wealth from mining resources by Nigeriens,” the government said in a press release published by the Niger Press Agency.
Relations between Niger and France have deteriorated since the African country’s military coup in July 2023, leading to a break in defense cooperation and the expulsion of French troops previously deployed to combat jihadist insurgents in the Sahel.
The transitional authorities have been reviewing foreign mining concessions as part of a wider regional push by governments, including allies in neighboring Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, to boost revenues from the extractive sector.
Last December, Orano claimed that the government in Niamey had taken operational control of its Somair uranium mine, in which the French company holds a 63.4% stake and the Nigerien state owns the remainder. In May, it reported that Nigerien security forces had raided the offices of its local subsidiaries, seized equipment and arrested one of its directors.
Orano said it has filed “several international arbitration proceedings” against Niger.
On Thursday, however, Niger accused Orano of disconnecting Somair from the company’s global IT network on December 4, effectively shutting down operations and unilaterally terminating all licenses without notice.
Niger is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer, accounting for approximately 5% of global output, according to the World Nuclear Association. The country’s uranium exports are a significant source of fuel for France’s nuclear reactors, supplying about 15%-17% of the uranium used in French electricity generation.
