NIGER military officers declared on Friday that they have suspended the constitution and dissolved all institutions, effectively overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. The political upheaval raises concerns about Niger’s stability, particularly as it stands as the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, a crucial radioactive metal.
Uranium is the primary fuel for nuclear energy, playing a vital role in generating electricity worldwide. It is also used in various applications, including cancer treatment, naval propulsion, and the production of nuclear weapons.
Niger, known for having Africa’s highest-grade uranium ores, produced approximately 2,020 metric tons of uranium in 2022, contributing about 5 percent to the global mining output, as reported by the World Nuclear Association (WNA). However, this was a decline from the 2,991 tons produced in 2020.
Among the world’s largest uranium producers are Kazakhstan, Canada, and Namibia. In Niger, one major mining operation in the north is operated by France’s state-owned Orano, while another major mine ceased operations in 2021, and one is under development.
Amidst the political turmoil, Orano confirmed that it continues its mining activities despite the ongoing ‘security events.’ French nuclear power plants rely on Niger for less than 10 percent of their uranium supply, according to Orano.
The mining sites near the city of Arlit, located in the northwest, are operated by Somair, a joint venture between Orano and Niger’s state-owned Sopamin. Additionally, the underground Akouta mine, situated southwest of Arlit, produced 75,000 metric tons of uranium from 1978 until its closure in March 2021 due to depleted ore reserves. Cominak, a mine 59 percent owned by Orano, 31 percent by Sopamin, and 10 percent by Spain’s state-owned Enusa, is also a significant contributor to Niger’s uranium production.
Furthermore, Niger boasts the Imouraren deposit, located about 50 miles south of Arlit, holding one of the world’s largest uranium reserves, according to Orano. Although an operating mine permit was issued in 2009, work was suspended in 2014 until uranium prices improve.
As the military coup casts a shadow over Niger’s political landscape, concerns loom over the future of the country’s uranium production and its significance in the global energy and medical sectors. The situation remains fluid, and the international community closely monitors developments in Niger, a country of strategic importance in the uranium market.
