Niger awards former Orano-operated uranium mine to state company

Niger granted a large-scale uranium-mining permit previously held by French nuclear company Orano SA to a state-controlled entity, cementing the military junta’s takeover of the Somaïr mine.

The permit for the In Azaoua area was granted to Tsumco SA, which Niger created after nationalizing Somaïr, minutes from a Nigerien cabinet meeting on Friday show. Orano previously held 63% of Somaïr, which operated the mine in partnership with Sopamin, Niger’s state mining company.

Orano didn’t respond to requests for comment outside normal business hours.

The decision underscores Niger’s increasingly assertive approach to its uranium industry since soldiers seized power in the West African nation three year ago. It allows mining of the nuclear fuel to continue under the new Nigerien-controlled structure and marks another step in the military government’s push to increase state control of the industry.

Niger seized control of Somaïr in June 2025, after accusing Orano of extracting more uranium than an its agreement with the state allowed. Orano has opposed the nationalizeation of the mine and sued Niger in multiple commercial courts following the takeover.

In a separate decision on Friday, Niger reawarded the Madaouela I uranium permit to Madaouela Mining Co., with the company agreeing to pay the state an initial fixed fee of $10 million.

The permit had reverted to the state after Niger revoked Canadian explorer GoviEx Uranium’s licence in July 2024. GoviEx subsequently launched arbitration proceedings over the cancellation.

(By Katarina Höije)