The Government of Niger has announced plans to nationalise the Somair uranium joint venture (JV), currently operated by French nuclear fuel company Orano, according to a report by Reuters, citing official sources.
This development represents a major escalation in the ongoing standoff between Niger and France, particularly in the aftermath of the July 2023 military coup that severely strained diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
In a statement broadcast on national television, Niger’s government cited multiple grievances, including the expiration of the mining agreement in December 2023, as justification for the move.
“Faced with this irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behaviour by Orano—a company owned by the French state, a state openly hostile toward Niger since 26 July 2023—the government of Niger has decided, in full sovereignty, to nationalise Somair,” the statement read.
Orano holds a 63% stake in Somair, with the remaining 37% owned by Niger’s state-run mining company, Sopamin. The French firm has reportedly been barred from accessing and operating the site since the military government assumed control.
In response, Orano has launched legal action, including international arbitration and domestic lawsuits, in an attempt to challenge the government’s decisions and reclaim operational control. The company has voiced strong concerns about increasing government interference, which it claims is jeopardising the mine’s financial stability.
The uranium giant, which operates three mines in Niger under joint ventures with the government, has also alleged arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, and unlawful seizures of assets and personnel by Nigerien authorities.
In May, Orano signalled it was considering divesting its uranium interests in the country amid the ongoing breakdown in relations with Niger’s military-led administration.
