Does France depend on Niger uranium?
Niger, one of France’s top three uranium suppliers
The diversification of suppliers is a source of security for EDF. Over the last ten years, the 88,200 tonnes of natural uranium imported into France came mainly from three countries: Kazakhstan (27%), Niger (20%), and Uzbekistan (19%).
In Nigeria, uranium has been discovered in a number of states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Gombe, Imo, Kano, and Sokoto. However, Nigeria does not currently mine it. There are no active uranium mines and no known commercial uranium reserves in the nation
Was uranium discovered in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, uranium exploration started in 1973 and to date uranium has been recorded in six States, namely: Cross River, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi and Kano. Uranium mineralization occurs at Guburende, Kanawa, Zona, Dali, Mika and Monkin–Manza and were all discovered by three Government agencies
Which African country is rich in uranium?
Namibia
Namibia had 470,100 metric tons of uranium in recoverable resources as of 2021, the largest amount in Africa. Currently, the country presents the largest uranium production on the continent.
Niger is among the world’s biggest uranium producers
With regard to France, Greenpeace is particularly interested in the transport of natural uranium from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. According to French customs figures, more than 40% of the natural uranium imported into France in 2022 came from these two countries
July 28 (Reuters) – Niger military officers said on Friday they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. Niger is the world’s seventh-biggest producer of uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA).
The radioactive metal is the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy. It is also used in treating cancer, for naval propulsion, and in nuclear weapons.
Below are details of Niger’s uranium deposits and mines:
PRODUCTION
Niger, which has Africa’s highest-grade uranium ores, produced 2,020 metric tons of uranium in 2022, about 5% of world mining output, according to the WNA. This was down from 2,991 tons in 2020.
The world’s three biggest producers are Kazakhstan, Canada and Namibia.
Niger has one major mining operation in the north operated by France’s state-owned Orano, another major mine which closed in 2021, with one under development.
Orano said on Friday it was continuing mining despite ongoing “security events”. French nuclear power plants source less than 10% of their uranium from Niger, Orano added.
ARLIT MINING SITES
Several open pit mining sites are located near the city of Arlit, in the northwest, and operated by Somair, a joint venture of Orano and Niger’s state-owned Sopamin.
AKOUTA MINE
This underground mine near Akokan, southwest oif Arlit, produced 75,000 metric tons of uranium from 1978 until March 2021, when it closed after its ore reserves had been depleted.
The mine was owned by Cominak, 59% owned by Orano, 31% by Sopamin and 10% by Spain’s state-owned Enusa.
IMOURAREN
This deposit about 50 miles south of Arlit contains one of the largest reserves in the world, according to Orano.
An operating mine permit was awarded in 2009, but work to bring the mine into operation was suspended in 2014 until uranium prices improve.
Reporting by Eric Onstad; Editing by Nick Macfie
