Niger's Military Government Revokes French Uranium Mining License

The military government of Niger has revoked the operating license of Orano, a French nuclear fuel producer, at one of the world’s largest uranium mines. This development, announced by Orano on Thursday, underscores the growing tensions between Niger’s ruling junta and France, the former colonial power.

The junta, which seized power in a coup in July of last year, has been pushing to sever ties with Western nations. They pledged to review mining concessions and have demanded the withdrawal of Western troops from Niger.

Orano has been ordered to cease operations at the Imouraren mine in northern Niger. This site contains an estimated 200,000 tonnes of uranium, a critical component for nuclear energy production.

Mining activities at Imouraren were scheduled to begin in 2015. However, the project was postponed due to the collapse in global uranium prices following the 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan. Despite recent efforts to resume work, Niger’s government warned that the license would expire on June 19 unless significant progress was made.

In a statement, Orano expressed disappointment, noting that Thursday’s decision came “despite the resumption of activities on site, pursuant to the expectations they had expressed.”

A letter from the Nigerien mining ministry, dated June 20 and obtained by the Associated Press, stated that Orano’s exploitation plan “did not meet our expectations.” Consequently, the mine has been “returned to the public domain” and is exempt from all contractual rights.

Since assuming power, the junta has been distancing itself from France. They expelled the French ambassador and, in December, ordered the departure of French troops who were stationed in Niger to combat Islamist militants. The junta has also been forging closer ties with Russia.

Orano, which has operated in Niger for over 50 years, expressed a willingness to maintain communication with the military authorities. However, the company also indicated that it might pursue legal action against the license withdrawal in either national or international courts.

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