Niger republic is making serious efforts to export its uranium production to the global market without the participation of its former operator, the French firm Orano.
The company announced that the authorities of the African nation commenced the shipment of uranium concentrate from the Arlit mine without notifying Orano.
As per an official declaration from Niger’s military leader, Abdourahmane Tiani, the nation intends to sell its uranium “independently, carefully choosing buyers and concentrating on market dynamics.”
Tiani’s remarks reflect the aspirations of Niger’s authorities to position themselves as sovereign exporters of vital resources, thus distancing themselves from the prior influence of foreign corporations.
Media sources indicate that around 1,000 tons of uranium concentrate have already been transported under protection and dispatched to the port of Lomé, the capital of the neighboring country Togo, enabling Niger to circumvent the former logistics networks managed by the French.
This action is perceived as the nation’s effort to solidify its newfound export autonomy and attract alternative partners for collaboration.
For Orano, which has historically held control over uranium deposits in Niger, this represents a significant setback.
Its joint venture, SOMAIR, was nationalized in June 2025 after Nigerien authorities accused the company of extracting an excessive share of uranium (they estimated 86 percent of production, while the shareholder was 63 percent).
Orano indicated that following the halt of supplies and nationalization, SOMAIR’s financial condition is nearing bankruptcy.
From a legal standpoint, the situation is intricate: the uranium reserves—approximately 1,300 tons of concentrate, valued at around €250 million—were previously acknowledged as the property of SOMAIR, and an international court has prohibited Niger from independently disposing of these reserves.
Nevertheless, the actual extraction of the concentrate has already commenced.
Concurrently, Niger is actively pursuing new partners for uranium mining and export. The nation aims to diversify its exports and position uranium as a crucial component of its foreign economic strategy.…
These developments illustrate a wider trend—a redistribution of power within the global uranium market, with supplier nations striving to enhance their sovereignty over strategic resources and diminish their reliance on Western corporations.
Until recently, they experienced a significant degree of freedom and interpreted previously established agreements in a rather arbitrary manner. The advantages of these agreements for the nations where mineral extraction occurs are also subject to debate.
The loss of oversight regarding Niger’s production represents a substantial setback for Orano and, more generally, for the European nuclear industry, which has historically depended on uranium sourced from that nation.
Niger is signaling its desire to emerge as an independent entity in the uranium market, complete with its own logistics, clientele, and export strategy.
The success of the country in executing these ambitions hinges on its ability to attract new partners, secure reliable transportation routes, and deliver uranium to global markets, all while navigating legal challenges and pressure from France and its allies.
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