After Niger Republic rejected the French nuclear company’s plan for developing the asset, Orano SA may lose the right to mine uranium at one of the world’s largest deposits by June 19, 2024.
This comes after Russia’s expressed interest to take over mining assets which was controlled by the French company. Niger’s Pro-France president was ousted in a coup last year.
Orano operates a single large uranium mine in Niger however, its plans to develop the Imouraren deposit “doesn’t meet the authorities’ expectations,” Niger’s mining ministry said.
“The second and final notice will end on June 19, after which date the company’s operating permit will be revoked,” the letter said. No mining official in Niger has responded to inquiries, and the Orano spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.
With an estimated 200,000 tons reserves, Imouraren is one of the world’s biggest uranium deposits. Niger is considering Russia, due to delays since Orano obtained the permit 14 years ago.
The site was initiatlly scheduled for exploitation in 2012, but the fall in global uranium prices stalled operations. World Nuclear Association says Niger accounted for about 4% of global uranium mine production in 2022.
Niger expelled French forces last year and ended a decade-long security agreement with the US, which has until mid-September to withdraw its troops stationed in the country.
Two months ago, 100 Russian military instructors arrived in Niamey, to collaborate with Niger’s forces on how to operate air defense systems supplied by Moscow.
France has relied on Niger for as much as 15% of its uranium needs to fuel nuclear reactors that account for 65% of the country’s electricity production, Le Monde reported last year, citing Orano. European Union utilities depended on Niger, the world’s seventh-largest producer, for about a quarter of their uranium supplies in 2022, according to the Euratom Supply Agency.
Orano currently has major stakes in Imouraren SA with Niger’s Sopamin SA controlling the remaining 33.35%.
Orano currently operates Somaïr, an open-pit mine in the northern Arlit region, after the closure of Cominak in 2021