• Langer Heinrich produced 1,830 tons of uranium in 2025
• Niger’s output fell to 962 tons in 2024, down sharply from 2015 levels
• Namibia has consolidated its position as a leading global producer

A comparison between uranium production in Namibia and Niger highlights the scale of Niger’s decline over the past decade. In 2025, the Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia delivered 4.03 million pounds of uranium, or about 1,830 tons, nearly double Niger’s total production of 962 tons in 2024. Niger had been Africa’s leading uranium producer in 2015.

According to data from the World Nuclear Association (WNA), Niger produced 4,116 tons of uranium in 2015, driven by output from the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (Somaïr) and the Compagnie minière d’Akouta (Cominak). Both were joint ventures between France’s Orano and the Nigerien state. As reserves were depleted, Cominak permanently shut down in 2021, leaving Somaïr as the country’s sole operating uranium mine.

Since July 2023, Somaïr has been at the center of tensions between Orano and the Nigerien authorities. Exports were blocked before the state moved to nationalize the company in 2025, ending a partnership that had lasted several decades. While the WNA reports uranium production of 1,130 tons in 2023 and 962 tons in 2024, Niger said last month that about 2,000 tons have been extracted since July 2023.

Namibia strengthens its lead

Over the same period, Namibia’s uranium output has risen sharply, from 2,993 tons in 2015 to 7,333 tons in 2024, an increase of about 145% over ten years. This growth has helped make Namibia the world’s third-largest uranium producer, while Niger slipped from fourth to eighth place globally.

Namibia’s production is driven by three mines, including Langer Heinrich, which resumed operations in 2024 after six years of inactivity caused by low uranium prices. For the financial year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, its owner Paladin Energy is targeting production of between 4 and 4.4 million pounds of uranium, or up to 1,995 tons.

Australia-based Deep Yellow is also advancing plans to bring Namibia’s fourth uranium mine, Tumas, into operation by the third quarter of 2027. The company expects average annual production of about 3.6 million pounds.

In Niger, while the state has taken over operations at the former Orano-managed mine, authorities have not published production forecasts for the coming years. Future growth could also come from other projects, including the Dasa mine being developed by Canada’s Global Atomic.

Emiliano Tossou