Niger appeals to Russia to exploit its natural resources, notably uranium – Libération

A call from the foot. Niger has invited Russian companies interested in the exploration and exploitation of its natural resources to come to the country, the Nigerien Minister of Mines said in an interview on Wednesday, November 13. Formulated by Ousmane Abarchi in an interview with the Russian public agency Ria Novosti, the proposal comes against the backdrop of a dispute between Niamey and the French group Orano over the exploitation of a uranium site. “We have already met Russian companies who are interested in coming to explore and exploit natural resources in Niger”said Ousmane Abarchi, specifying that it was not a question “not just uranium”. “We invited them to come to Niger in this context”he declared

“With regard to French companies, the French State through its Head of State has said that it does not recognize the authorities of Niger”who came to power following a military coup in July 2023, recalled Ousmane Abarchi. According to him, “this hasn’t changed in over a year”. “Does it seem conceivable to you that as such we, the State of Niger, would accept that French companies continue to exploit our natural resources?”he stressed.

Since its arrival in office, the Nigerien power, resulting from a coup d'état perpetrated in July 2023, has increased its positions hostile to the West and to France in particular, making national sovereignty its priority. This statement comes as Niamey contests the decision announced at the end of October by the French uranium specialist Orano to suspend its production.

Sopamin, a Nigerien state company, is a shareholder with Orano (majority stake at 63.4%) in Somaïr, the last site operated in Niger by the French group until it announced a suspension of its production of uranium, effective October 31. Orano explained its decision by worsening financial difficulties, linked in particular to the withdrawal by the Nigerien authorities in June of a permit to exploit one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, Imouraren, and to the impossibility of export this raw material.

Niger's border with Benin is closed for security reasons, according to Niamey. The Nigerien government has repeatedly repeated its desire to thoroughly review the system of exploitation of raw materials on its soil by foreign companies and is turning in particular to new partners such as Russia or Iran.