Niger’s uranium showdown with France may have just opened the door for Romania to get 300 tonnes of the nuclear material

The reports show that one-third of the uranium stockpile owned by the French multinational nuclear fuel company, Orano SA, could be acquired by Nuclearelectrica.

According to an exclusive report by Jeune Afrique in collaboration with MDMG Sahel, as cited by Turkiye Today, the proposed acquisition involves approximately 300 tons of uranium concentrate.

This volume represents a portion of a larger stockpile exceeding 1,000 tons, which has been held near the Niamey airport since the latter part of 2025.

The stockpile, which has been the center of a dispute between the nation’s government and foreign Orano, has also reportedly spurred recent violent incidents within the country.

At the time, two eyewitnesses told media agencies that the gunshots appeared to originate near the airport’s main gate.

This marked the second attack the airport had suffered this year alone, as late in January, suspected terrorists attacked the same airport.

While the purpose of the assault was not officially stated, several accounts linked it to a uranium storage near the attack site.

The airport is located near an air force installation where uranium from Orano SA’s mine was held.

Orano SA and the government of Niger engaged in a dispute regarding the control of the Somaïr mines for most of last year, with Niger contending that Orano accounted for 86.3% of the total output since 1971, despite maintaining only a 63% ownership stake.

Last year in June, Niger’s military took control of the Somaïr mine, following months of delayed exports and a raid on Orano’s offices in Niamey, intensifying tensions with the French state-controlled corporation.

Niger had announced plans to nationalize the Somair uranium joint venture.

“Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour by Orano, a company owned by the French state, a state openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023 … the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalise Somair,” the government relayed via a statement.

The statement highlighted many issues, including the expiration of the company’s mining license in December 2023, as part of the government’s reason for seizing control of the uranium project.

Niger, like neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, is currently ruled by a military government that seized power following widespread public dissatisfaction with the authorities’ incapacity to deal with mounting insecurity.

These countries hold strong nationalist views and have gone on to nationalize assets formerly controlled by foreign stakeholders, much like the Somir mine.

However, recent reports show that Romania could enter the picture by purchasing the very uranium assets the Niger government and Orana had spent the last year bickering over.

Following a delegation from Nuclearelectrica to Niamey in April this year, Nuclearelectrica SA’s CEO, Cosmin Ghita, reportedly met with Nigerien authorities and the Niger Mining Heritage Company (Sopamin), which now controls a large portion of Somir.

According to the records, on April 13, the Nuclearelectrica CEO expressed interest in acquiring the uranium from Niger.

In response, Niger’s Minister of Mines, Colonel Abarchi Ousmane, stated on April 20 that the nation intended to “diversify its partners” and explore methods to supply uranium to Romania and Europe.

To discuss the proposal, he invited Ghita to Niamey.

A day later, Ghita reaffirmed the company’s interest and proposed sending a Romanian delegation led by Gelu Agafiel Maracineanu, Deputy Director General of FPCU Feldioara, a nuclear fuel subsidiary of Nuclearelectrica.

The delegation was scheduled to visit Niamey from May 11 to May 15.

The report indicates that the meeting culminated in a preliminary agreement between the Romanian state entity and Nigerien officials.

Marc Eichinger, an expert on Niger’s uranium industry, estimates that the potential acquisition could be valued at approximately $40 million.

He notes that transactions executed outside conventional market channels may incur discounts of roughly 30%.

Based on these parameters, the 300-ton transaction would total around $40 million at a rate of $133,000 per ton, contrasting with a standard market valuation of approximately $57 million, as uranium is currently priced at about $190,050 per ton.