Niger to nationalize Somair uranium mine operated by French firm Orano

​​​​​​​By Nur Asena Erturk

Niger announced plans to nationalize the Somair uranium mine, which is currently majority-owned by French firm Orano, according to an official statement.

Orano, which owns 63.4% of the mine against 36.6% of state-owned SOPAMIN, has been the main operator of uranium in the region for more than 50 years, Nigerien news outlet ActuNiger reported Friday, following a Cabinet decision announced late Thursday.

The Cabinet justified the decision due to what it called Orano’s “irresponsible, illegal, and unfair” acts, including the withdrawal of staff and blocking operations, said the statement.

The government targets a better, durable, and fair management of mining resources to benefit the Nigerien people, according to ActuNiger.

Shareholders will receive compensation, and the current management will carry out its duties until the nomination of replacements.

The Nigerien government took control of the mine in December after a dispute that was rooted in Niger’s frayed relations with France, exacerbated by Paris’ refusal to recognize the military government that took power in a 2023 coup.

Niger supplied 15%- 20% of France’s uranium imports, and accounts for about 4% of global output of uranium, the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy.

The Nigerien government’s latest decision comes at a time when other countries in the region, including Mali and Burkina Faso, are seeking more sovereignty over their resources.

Earlier this week, a Malian court placed Canada's Barrick Mining's Loulo-Gounkoto gold complex under provisional administration for six months due to an ongoing tax dispute, and Burkina Faso recently nationalized five gold mines.