French media reports indicate concerns regarding a potential uranium deal between Niger and Russia, involving the sale of approximately 1,000 tons of uranium. The deal, allegedly worth $170 million, has been denied by both Niger and the Russian company Rosatom, amidst ongoing tensions following a military coup in Niger.
A French newspaper has reported concerns regarding a potential deal between Niger and Russia for the sale of approximately 1,000 tons of concentrated uranium, produced by the French group Orano at its former mine in Arlit, northern Niger. Both Niger and the Russian company Rosatom have denied the existence of such a deal.
According to French sources, the military council governing Niamey, led by General Omar Abdel Rahman Tiani, has reached an agreement with the Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom to transport this quantity of uranium in exchange for a deal valued at $170 million.
The Orano mine contains about 1,400 tons of stored materials, estimated to be worth around 250 million euros, amidst a legal dispute between the French company and Nigerien authorities over the ownership of these materials.
Orano, primarily state-owned, has been a major investor in Niger’s uranium sector since 1971, but it has been forced to gradually suspend its activities following the military coup in July 2023 and the subsequent deterioration in relations between Paris and Niamey, along with the withdrawal of French troops from the country.
The newspaper reported that Niamey and Moscow plan to transport the materials by truck before the end of this month, passing through Burkina Faso to the port of Lome in Togo, in preparation for maritime shipment to Russia.
Le Monde noted that military and customs officials from the three countries have held meetings to secure the passage of shipments through areas controlled by armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in northern and eastern Burkina Faso.
Denials and Disputes
Nigerien authorities continue to deny the existence of any such deal, and Rosatom has also denied its involvement in the alleged agreement. However, Paris does not rule out the possibility of an intermediary company being behind the deal.
On September 23, an arbitration court issued a ruling preventing the Nigerien government from selling, transferring, or facilitating the transfer of any quantity of uranium produced by the local branch of Orano, Somair, to third parties.
Niger’s Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Amin Zain, has accused France of attempting to drag his country into repeated legal disputes to prevent it from exploiting and selling its mineral resources, amid escalating tensions between the two countries since the military coup.
In mid-May, Orano announced that it had filed a lawsuit in Niger’s courts regarding what it described as “arbitrary detention, illegal custody, and unfair seizure of property” affecting its employees and assets in the country.
The company stated that it had been unable to contact its mining operations manager in Niger, Ibrahim Kourmo, who had been arrested by the authorities and transferred to the external intelligence agency in the capital, Niamey.
Since 1971, Orano, a French state-owned company, has been a significant player in Niger’s uranium sector. However, following the military coup in July 2023, the company has gradually suspended its operations due to deteriorating relations between France and Niger.
This situation has led to legal disputes over uranium ownership and production rights, complicating the future of uranium mining in the region. The geopolitical landscape has shifted, with Niger seeking new partnerships, particularly with Russia, as it navigates its post-coup reality.
