The World Bank’s arbitration body has ordered Niger to stop any trading of uranium from the Somaïr mine, which the country’s junta seized earlier this year from French nuclear company Orano SA.
In its ruling, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) barred Niger from selling or transferring uranium from the mine or enabling its transfer to third parties, according to a statement released by Orano on Friday.
The ICSID also called on Niger to release Orano’s country representative, who remains in detention despite a Niamey appeal court ordering his release in July, Bloomberg reported.
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Niger’s military rulers took control of the Somaïr mine in June following months of blocked exports and a raid on Orano’s offices in Niamey, further intensifying tensions with the French state-controlled company.
Orano holds a 63% stake in Somaïr, with the rest owned by Niger’s state-run firm Sopamin.
In July, Orano warned that its joint venture in Niger was on the brink of bankruptcy. At full capacity, Somaïr accounted for around 15% of the company’s uranium production.
Orano said it had been raising concerns about the mine’s worsening financial position since October as its dispute with the government deepened.
The junta, which seized power in 2023, has defended its decision to nationalize the mine, accusing Orano of extracting 86.3% of uranium output since 1971 despite holding only a 63% stake.
Niger’s move reflects a wider pattern across junta-led West African states such as Mali and Burkina Faso, where military rulers have sought to exert greater control over natural resources.
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