French nuclear fuel giant Orano’s uranium mining subsidiary in northern Niger is on the verge of bankruptcy, raising alarms over future nuclear fuel supply chains amid deepening tensions with the ruling junta, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The company cited a breakdown in talks with Niamey and the blocking of essential equipment at the border as the primary drivers of the crisis.
The COMINAK mine in the Arlit region once supplied up to 30% of France’s uranium needs. Although the mine ceased production in 2021, Orano remains responsible for post-mining environmental rehabilitation, which can no longer continue due to the Nigerien government’s refusal to grant access to key technical materials. Orano warned that without immediate resolution, the site faces “insolvency and cessation of payments” as early as July.
The uranium dilemma is yet another area of fallout from Niger’s political realignment since the July 2023 coup, which continues to threaten Western nuclear supply chains. French energy security is particularly exposed: Niger accounted for roughly 15% of the European Union’s uranium imports in 2022, second only to Kazakhstan.
Orano says it remains open to dialogue, but warned that “structural dysfunctions” imposed by Niger’s authorities threaten not just mine rehabilitation, but regional environmental and radiological safety.
The uranium standoff also comes as Niger attempts to reassert sovereignty over its vast resource base. Last year, the military-led government expelled French forces and has since fostered closer ties with Russia and China.
In the hydrocarbons sector, Niger is pushing forward with a 2,000-km crude oil export pipeline to Benin, a project intended to transform the landlocked nation into a regional energy player. However, that project has also been hindered by border closures and diplomatic spats, leaving tankers stranded at the Sèmè-Kpodji terminal despite oil production already ramping up in the Agadem basin.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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