The business, which is 90% owned by the French state, claimed on Friday that the Somair mine’s planned nationalization was a “systematic policy of stripping mining assets,” and that it would file a lawsuit against the decision.
The military-led government, which came to power in a 2023 coup and pledged to review mining concessions, planned to retake control of the Somair mine, accusing Orano of producing disproportionate amounts of the uranium there.
The government reported that Orano had taken 86.3% of production between the mine’s opening in 1971 and 2024, while Niger’s state-owned Sopamin owns the remainder.
The government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalize Somair, according to the authorities on Thursday, “Faced with the irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior by Orano, a company owned by the French state, a state that has been openly hostile toward Niger since July 26, 2023.”
Nationalizations wave
Since assuming power, Niger’s military leaders have turned their back on France and instead have sought to bolster ties with Russia.
In order to take control of Orano’s three main mines in the nation, Somair, Cominak, and Imouraren, which have the largest uranium deposits in the world, Niger removed the country’s operational control in 2024.
On Friday, Orano stated that it intends to “claim its rights over the stock that corresponds to Somair’s production to date” and seek compensation for all of its losses.
Orano, which has been in Niger for 50 years, participates in a number of arbitration proceedings.
Following the disappearance of its director and the raiding of its local offices, it filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian authorities last month.
Source: Aljazeera
Leave a Reply