21/6/2025–|Last update: 12:57 (Mecca time)
Niger announced a plan to nationalize the uranium mine, run by the French company Urano, months after the deterioration of relations between the two parties.
Relations between France And Niger in the wake of the 2023 coup that toppled the elected president Mohammad Bazoum.
Niger’s decision to nationalize the Sumer mine comes amid a wave of nationalization of mines throughout West Africa, which raised concerns by global mining companies and other foreign investors who invested billions of dollars in the region.
In a statement issued last Thursday, the Niger government accused the French company of seizing an impartial share of the mall of the mine compared to its real share.
“According to the shareholders’ agreement, shareholders produce uranium produced by Somaïr company in proportion to their shares. However, the numbers … far from embodying this sharing base,” the statement said.
On the other hand, Urano expressed its opposition to the Niger step, confirming its right to take legal action.
She expressed deep regret over the development of the situation and the position of the Niger state, which threw its weight on the group’s mining companies in Niger and on the local communities.
According to the numbers mentioned by Reuters, Urano has a 63 % stake in Somer, while the state -owned Sobamine has in Niger The remaining percentage.
But the government said that Urano acquired 86.3 % of production between 1971, when the mine was launched, and in 2024, without going into details.