Key Highlights

• Niger’s government has seized full control of SOMAÏR, its only active uranium mine, stripping Orano of its 63.4% stake.
• Officials accuse Orano of production misappropriation, mismanagement, and destabilizing local operations.
• The dispute follows a wider political rift between Niger and France after the 2023 coup, with arbitration now underway.

Niger has nationalized its only active uranium mine, escalating a dispute with French nuclear giant Orano amid worsening political ties following the country’s 2023 military coup.

The government on June 19 approved the full takeover of the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR), previously majority-owned by Orano with a 63.4% stake. State mining firm SOPAMIN held the remaining 36.6%. SOMAÏR is now entirely under Nigerien state control.

The Council cited multiple irregularities in the mine’s management. Niamey claims Orano took 86.3% of uranium production since 1971—far more than its ownership share. SOPAMIN should have received a proportional share but only got 9.2%.

The government also accuses Orano of trying to halt mining operations by repatriating French staff and launching “disinformation campaigns” to sow discord among suppliers, clients, subcontractors, and employees. Niamey noted that the last mining agreement expired on December 31, 2023. Orano has not yet responded to these claims.

In December 2024, Orano admitted it lost operational control of SOMAÏR to local authorities. Earlier, Niamey blocked Orano’s exports and revoked its permit for another uranium site, Imouraren, in June 2024. This year, Orano condemned the arrest and “arbitrary detention” of its Niger country director after a raid on its offices. The company has launched international arbitration against Niger.

Orano Caught in Political Crossfire

The fallout between Niger and Orano followed the July 2023 coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power. Niger accused France, Orano’s main shareholder, of backing terrorism in the Sahel and hostile acts against Niger. Orano now faces the consequences of worsening Franco-Nigerien relations.

Niamey promises compensation to shareholders whose stakes transfer to the state. The government says it will cover all legal obligations, including mine rehabilitation costs. However, it has not explained how it will calculate payouts and already accuses Orano of failing to rehabilitate the COMINAK mine, another uranium site Orano operated until 2021.

Sources say Russia, which Niger has grown closer to since the coup, and other parties have shown interest in SOMAÏR’s uranium. The government has yet to announce its plans for the mine and says current management will stay in place until new leaders take over.

The article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou.

 Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum