The French company Orano, a uranium specialist, claims to have “lost operational control” of its mining subsidiary in Niger

French uranium specialist Orano said Nigerien authorities had “took operational control” of its mining subsidiary in Niger, Wednesday December 4, a new episode of a standoff with the military junta in power in the Sahel country.

“For several months Orano has been warning about the interference that the group is experiencing in the governance of Somaïr [Société des mines de l’Aïr]of which he is the majority shareholder and operator in Niger [à 64,3 %, le reste étant détenu par l’Etat du Niger] »writes the French group. “In fact, the decisions taken during the company’s board meetings are no longer applied and, in fact, Orano notes today that the Nigerien authorities have taken operational control”according to the press release published by the French group. “The production expenses which continue on the site further degrade the financial situation of the company every day”completes Orano.

On October 23, the company announced that under these conditions, “heavily degraded[s] »its subsidiary was going “suspend” its production from October 31, due to lack of power “continue working” in this country led by a military regime, resulting from a coup d’état perpetrated in July 2023. In June, Niger had, in fact, withdrawn from Orano the operating permit for one of the largest deposits in the world, that of Imouraren, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tonnes.

Orano “intends to defend its rights with the competent authorities”

“In this context, the application of the resolution adopted by the board of directors of Somaïr, on November 12, to suspend expenses linked to production activities to prioritize the payment of salaries and to preserve the integrity of the industrial tool is voluntarily prevented”continues the press release.

The French group claims that “the representatives of Niger assume this position that they defended during the ordinary board meeting held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, in particular confirming their refusal to export production”.

Oran “expresses its deepest regrets at the evolution of the situation which weighs heavily on employees and local communities”. He makes it known that he “intends to defend its rights with the competent authorities and reaffirms its conviction that only a desire shared by all stakeholders to re-establish a stable and sustainable mode of operation will make it possible to resume activities calmly”.