Source: AFP
Niger confirmed on Monday that one of the world’s largest uranium mines has returned to public control after French nuclear fuel company Orano’s operating license was revoked.
The company last week said it had been locked out of the Imouraren mine in northern Niger, in a move that underscored tensions between France and the West African country’s military leaders.
The government had not reacted before issuing a statement on Monday saying the Imouraren mine had returned “to the public domain of the state”.
It justified the revocation of the license by saying that Orano “never kept its commitments” despite two “official notices” delivered to it by the mines ministry in February 2022 and March this year.
Orano said on Thursday it had “taken into consideration” the withdrawal of the license from its subsidiary Imouraren SA.
The move came despite the recent resumption of “activities” at the site, which had met the government’s wishes, according to Orano.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/ed4232817c0fcd41.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/ed4232817c0fcd41.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
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The company added that it is “ready to keep all channels of communication open” with the authorities, while reserving the right to challenge the decision in national or international courts.
The Imouraren mine is home to around 200,000 tonnes of uranium, used for nuclear power and weapons.
However, growth froze after global uranium prices collapsed following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.
Niger’s military leaders have pledged to review the country’s mining concessions since taking power in a July 2023 coup as part of his focus on national sovereignty.
They also cut ties with France, the former colonial power and traditional partner, and turned to Russia, which is seeking to expand its influence in the region.
Niger in 2022 accounted for about a quarter of the natural uranium supplied to European nuclear power plants, according to data from the atomic organization Euratom.
Source: AFP