Niger has accused French nuclear fuel group Orano of “predatory behavior” and environmental crimes, heightening an increasingly bitter dispute over control of the country’s uranium mining sector.
The military-led government said Orano could face criminal prosecution for what it described as “mass crimes” after authorities reported discovering 400 barrels of radioactive core material in Madaouela, near Arlit, an area where Orano previously operated uranium mines, as seen on Reuters
Orano, which is 90% owned by the French state, said it has not received any official legal notice from Niger regarding criminal action and denied any involvement with operations at Madaouela.
“Orano does not hold an operating license for the Madaouela site and has conducted no operations there,” the company stated in a written response to questions from Reuters.
Justice Minister Alio Daouda said radiation measurements in the affected area were significantly higher than normal, registering between 7 and 10 microsieverts per hour compared with a typical background reading of around 0.5 microsieverts per hour.
Authorities also reported finding two substances linked to respiratory problems that could pose health risks to local residents.
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The escalating dispute follows Niger’s nationalization in June of the Somaïr uranium mine, which resulted in Orano losing its 63.4% ownership stake.
Niger began transporting uranium from the site last week, saying the move was an exercise of its sovereign rights, despite a World Bank tribunal order that barred access to the stockpiled material.
Orano condemned the shipment as illegal and warned that it presented serious safety and environmental risks, adding that it had no evidence to show the transport complied with international standards.
Niger is currently the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, a material used in nuclear power generation and cancer treatment.
France, which generates about 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy, previously sourced roughly 15% of its uranium from Niger when the country’s mining operations were running at full capacity.
The seizure of Orano’s stake reflects a broader regional pattern in which military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger have sought to assert stronger control over natural resource assets.
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Image Credit: Reuters
