Nuclear: a subsidiary of the French uranium giant Orano nationalized by Niger

Niger's military regime announced on Thursday, June 19, the nationalization of Somaïr, a subsidiary of French uranium giant Orano, which had lost operational control over the company several months ago. The issue has become a symbol of tensions between Paris and Niamey.

Uranium mining in Niger is at the center of a standoff between the junta that took power in Niamey in 2023 and the Orano group, more than 90% of whose capital is owned by the French state.

"Faced with the irresponsible, illegal and disloyal behaviour of Orano, a company owned by the French State, a State openly hostile to Niger (...) the State of Niger has decided in all sovereignty to nationalise Somaïr" , indicated national television (RTN) which was reporting on the Council of Ministers.

"Through this nationalization, the shares and assets of Somaïr are fully transferred in full ownership to the State of Niger," continues the RTN, which specifies that the shareholders will benefit from a compensation "indemnity" .

The case has become a symbol of the execrable tensions between France and the regime, which is moving closer to other partners such as Russia and Iran. Niamey regularly accuses Paris of wanting to destabilize it by "training terrorists," without, however, providing concrete evidence to support these allegations.

This Sahelian country regularly faces bloody jihadist attacks : on Thursday, 34 soldiers were killed in Banibangou (west), near the Malian border.

In December 2024, Orano (formerly Areva) announced the loss of operational control of its three mining subsidiaries in Niger: the Somaïr mine, the Cominak mine (closed since 2021), and the Imouraren deposit. The latter site is one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tonnes, and Niamey revoked Orano's operating license in June 2024.

But the French group remained a majority shareholder with more than 60% of these subsidiaries, and initiated "several international arbitration proceedings" against the State of Niger, the last of which dates back to the end of January after the loss of operational control of the Somaïr site.

In mid-May, the French company reported no news of its local director after a search of the company's offices by security forces. Computer equipment and cell phones were seized, according to Orano, which filed a complaint with the public prosecutor for arbitrary arrest and illegal detention.

Orano, which has been mining uranium in northern Niger since 1971, is facing a shift toward sovereignty driven by the Nigerien junta that came to power in a coup nearly two years ago. Niger, for example, refuses to reopen its border with Benin, accusing it of destabilizing it.

As a result, nearly 1,300 tonnes of uranium concentrate, which usually transited through the port of Cotonou, are still stuck at the Somaïr site, with a market value of €250 million, according to the group.

In addition to its break with the French giant, the Niamey regime has also ordered Chinese workers in the oil sector to leave the country, accusing the CNPCNP company, which exploits the black gold, of "contempt" for current regulations.

On the military front, Niger expelled French and American soldiers engaged in the anti-jihadist fight from its soil, and the United States notably returned its drone base in the north of the country in March 2024.