Niger‑Orano uranium dispute stalls local uranium exports

The government of Niger and French nuclear fuel company Orano are locked in a multi‑layered conflict over the country’s uranium mines, chiefly the Société des mines de l’Aïr (Somaïr). Niger’s mining minister, Abarchi Ousmane, says the state can maintain production without Orano and accuses the company of “legal harassment” after Orano’s 2024 attempt to halt output. The dispute has escalated beyond the mine sites to courts in Niger and internationally, covering issues such as the withdrawal of the Imouraren licence, the nationalisation of an Orano subsidiary, and the terms of partnership agreements.

Since the nationalisation, Niger says it has not sold any uranium on the international market, citing ongoing lawsuits by Orano that block sales. The standoff reflects broader tensions between Niamey and France that intensified after the July 2023 French troop withdrawal and a rise in sovereignist rhetoric in the Sahel. While Niger seeks to demonstrate economic sovereignty, it still faces challenges in exporting uranium, finding buyers and navigating the legal and commercial frameworks tied to the dispute.

The conflict underscores the strategic importance of uranium as a political and economic lever, with implications for Niger’s revenues and for the global supply chain of nuclear fuel.