Niger: Towards divorce between the State and Orano!
Some time ago, Orano announced the resumption of its activities concerning the exploitation of the Imouraren uranium deposit in Niger, after a ten-year suspension. However, it currently appears that Nigerien authorities are opposed to this resumption of activities, to the point where some sources even hint at the possibility of a definitive termination.
According to a correspondence reported by Bloomberg at the beginning of the week, Orano’s announced plan does not meet the expectations of Nigerien authorities. “The second and final notice will end on June 19, after which the company’s operating license will be revoked”, the letter specifies.
After suspending the development of the project in 2015, Orano’s resumption of activities comes in the context of an acceleration of uranium projects worldwide, due to rising prices and demand, driven by renewed interest from global decision-makers in nuclear energy.
For now, there has been no official communication from Orano or the Nigerien government confirming this information. If it becomes official, such a revocation would confirm other reports from early June regarding ongoing negotiations to reassign uranium assets held by Orano to the Russian nuclear company ROSATOM.
A departure or reduction of Orano’s presence in Niger would align with a strategy to reduce Paris’s influence in the country, following the departure of the French ambassador and French troops last year.
It is worth noting that Orano currently operates Somaïr, the only active mine in the country, enabling Niger to account for 4% of the world’s uranium production in 2022, according to the World Nuclear Association.
