The British Financial Times reported informed sources that the French -owned Urano company, which specializes in nuclear fuel, is looking to sell its uranium assets in Niger, after its relationship with the military authorities that rule the country since the July 26 coup 2023.
The French company – which is the third largest producer of uranium listed in the world – said that its priorities now are to focus on the current international arbitration process with the government in Niamey, adding that “several parties have shown their interest in the group’s assets in Niger, and have a freedom to present its offers if desired.”
Last December, Urano announced that it had begun in international arbitration procedures with the Niger government, in protest against the withdrawal of the Emorine mine license, noting that it resorted to that option after she had exhausted all the good efforts that would lead to solutions and understandings about the possibility of returning to the dialogue.
In June 2024, the ruling military council in Niger withdrew a license to operate the Imorine mine – whose reserves are estimated at 200 million tons of uranium – from Urano, accusing it of not fulfilling its obligations towards the country.
The French company announced last Tuesday to file a lawsuit before the Niger courts because of what it described as “arbitrary detention and illegal detention” of its employees, and the unfair confiscation of property.
Last week, the company said that it could not communicate with its operations manager in Niger Ibrahim Kormo because of his arrest by the authorities in Niamey, and transferred him to the headquarters of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
