Niger’s nationalisation of Somair mine operated by Orano comes because it strikes away from France and seeks nearer ties with Russia.
Niger plans to nationalise a uranium mine operated by French nuclear agency Orano because it continues to pivot away from former colonial ruler, France.
The corporate, which is 90 % owned by the French state, mentioned on Friday that Niger’s army rulers’ deliberate nationalisation of the Somair mine was a part of a “systematic coverage of stripping mining belongings”, threatening to take authorized motion over the transfer.
The army authorities – which got here to energy in a 2023 coup, pledging to evaluation mining concessions – had mentioned a day prior that it meant to take management of the Somair mine, accusing Orano of taking a disproportionate share of uranium produced on the web site.
Orano holds a 63 % stake in Somair, whereas Niger’s state-owned Sopamin owns the rest, however the authorities mentioned that Orano had taken 86.3 % of manufacturing between the mine’s launch in 1971 and 2024.
“Confronted with the irresponsible, unlawful, and unfair behaviour by Orano, an organization owned by the French state, a state brazenly hostile towards Niger since July 26, 2023 … the federal government of Niger has determined, in full sovereignty, to nationalise Somair,” the authorities mentioned on Thursday.
Wave of nationalisations
Niger’s army leaders have turned their again on France since taking energy, searching for nearer ties with Russia as a substitute.
In 2024, Niger eliminated Orano’s operational management of its three major mines within the nation: Somair, Cominak and Imouraren, which has one of many largest uranium deposits on the earth.
On Friday, Orano mentioned it meant “to say compensation for all of its damages and assert its rights over the inventory equivalent to Somair’s manufacturing to this point”.
Orano, which has been working in Niger for 50 years, is concerned in a number of arbitration processes with the nation.
Final month, it sued the Nigerien authorities after the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its native places of work.
Niger’s choice to nationalise Somair comes amid a wave of mine nationalisations throughout West Africa, notably in Mali and Burkina Faso, each of that are ruled by army governments.
