Quick overview

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French state-owned nuclear Orano is thinking about divesting its uranium holdings in Niger because of worsening relations with the nation’s military regime.

The Financial Times has been reporting this development as a result of sustained tensions between Orano’s Niger operations and the military junta that came to power following a coup in 2023.

Orano has a joint venture with the government of Niger, operating three uranium mines in the Niger Republic.

The French company stated that since the coup in 2023, which overthrew the pro-Western regime, Niger has significantly restricted uranium exports and has stopped fulfilling cash calls as a joint venture partner in the project.

Orano has claimed that the Nigerien courts have undermined the rule of law by subjecting its staff to what it terms the arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, along with an unjust seizure of property that disables the running of the business in the country.

Some of the most pressing issues involve the company’s mining director for the Niger Region, Ibrahime Courmo of Orano, who has reportedly been arrested by the domestic intelligence service, la Direction Générale de la Documentation Extérieure et de la Surveillance. The company asserts that he has since been detained without his lawyers to access him.

In December 2023 when Niger’s military government took over the Somair uranium mine which Orano owns 63% of, tensions worsened with regards to controlling the site’s infrastructure. In June 2024, the ruling imperial faction