Niger Awards Former Orano-Operated Uranium Mine To State-Controlled Company

Niger has awarded a large-scale uranium mining permit previously held by French nuclear company Orano SA to a state-controlled entity, strengthening the military government’s control over the country’s uranium industry.

The permit covering the In Azaoua area was granted to Tsumco SA, a company established by Niger following the nationalisation of the Somaïr uranium operation. The decision marks another step in the government’s efforts to place the country’s strategic mineral resources under greater state control.

Orano previously held a 63% stake in Somaïr, operating the mine in partnership with Niger’s state-owned mining company, Sopamin.

The latest decision follows a major deterioration in relations between Niger and Orano since the country’s military authorities took control of Somaïr in June 2025.

Niger Tightens Control Over Uranium Sector

Niger’s decision reflects a broader shift in its approach to the country’s uranium resources since the military junta seized power three years ago.

Uranium is one of Niger’s most strategically important mineral resources, and the government has increasingly sought to increase state participation and control over mining operations.

The transfer of the permit to Tsumco could allow uranium mining in the In Azaoua area to continue under a Nigerien-controlled structure while reducing the role of foreign operators in the country’s uranium industry.

Niger seized control of Somaïr after accusing Orano of extracting more uranium than permitted under its agreement with the state. Orano rejected the nationalisation and has pursued legal action against Niger in several commercial courts.

The dispute has added further uncertainty to the future of one of the country’s most important uranium operations and highlighted the growing tensions between Niger’s military government and foreign mining companies.

Second Uranium Permit Re-awarded

Niger also approved a separate uranium development decision involving the Madaouela I project.

The permit was reawarded to Madaouela Mining Co., with the company agreeing to pay the Nigerien government an initial fixed fee of $10 million.

The permit had previously reverted to the state after Niger revoked Canadian uranium explorer GoviEx Uranium’s licence in July 2024.

GoviEx subsequently initiated arbitration proceedings over the cancellation, adding another layer to Niger’s increasingly complex relationship with international mining investors.

Implications For Niger’s Mining Industry

The decisions demonstrate the government’s determination to reshape the ownership and management of Niger’s mineral resources.

For Niger, greater state participation could provide increased control over uranium production and potentially allow the government to capture a larger share of the economic value generated by the country’s mineral wealth.

However, the approach also raises questions about investor confidence, regulatory stability and the future involvement of international mining companies.

The disputes involving Orano and GoviEx illustrate the legal and commercial risks that can emerge when mining licences, ownership structures and government policy change significantly.

Niger will therefore need to balance its objective of increasing national control over strategic minerals with the need to attract the technical expertise, financing and infrastructure required to develop large-scale mining projects.

The country’s uranium sector remains strategically important to global nuclear fuel supply, making developments in Niger closely watched by mining companies, governments and the international nuclear industry.

The transfer of the former Orano-operated permit to Tsumco is consequently more than a change in ownership. It signals Niger’s continued push to establish greater national control over its uranium resources and could shape the country’s mining investment landscape for years to come.

External view of the Somair plant. (Image: Orano.)