The standoff between the French industrialist specializing in nuclear power and the military junta in power is hardening.
The French uranium specialist Orano said on Wednesday that the Nigerien authorities had “took operational control” of its mining subsidiary in Niger, a new episode of a standoff with the junta in power in this Sahelian country. The board of directors of Somaïr, the Société des mines de l'Aïr, is 63.4% owned by Orano and 36.6% by the State of Niger.
On October 23, Orano announced that faced with a situation “heavily degraded”its subsidiary was going “suspend” its production from October 31, due to lack of power “continue working” in this country led by a military regimeresulting from a coup d'état carried out in July 2023.
In June, Niger had in fact withdrawn from Orano the exploitation permit for one of the largest deposits in the worldthat of Imouraren, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tonnes.
“For several months Orano has been warning about the interference that the group is experiencing in the governance of Somaïr, of which it is the majority shareholder and operator in Niger. In fact, the decisions taken during the company's board of directors are no longer applied and , in fact Orano notes today that the Nigerien authorities have taken operational control.” according to the press release published Wednesday by the French group. “The production expenses which continue on the site further deteriorate the financial situation of the company every day”adds Orano.
“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 deliberately 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 indicates 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.”
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