Niger’s government has officially ended its uranium mining partnership with French firm Orano by establishing a state-owned company to take over operations. The move comes as Niamey seeks greater control over its natural resources amid ongoing legal disputes with the international miner.
The Nigerien Council of Ministers, led by President Abdourahamane Tiani, approved a decree creating Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA), a national entity designed to replace the former Société des mines de l’Aïr (SOMAIR), which was nationalized last year. The decision terminates Orano Mining’s 75-year concession for the Arlit uranium deposit, initially granted in 1978. Authorities stated that the new company’s name, Teloua, honors a local underground aquifer in the Arlit mining region—a symbolic nod to environmental preservation in a fragile Saharan ecosystem.
Niger’s government highlighted severe environmental damage caused by decades of uranium extraction, including soil degradation, water depletion, and ecological disruption around mining sites. Officials framed the transition as both a corrective measure and a commitment to holding past operators accountable for their legacy of environmental harm.
Legal standoff with Orano intensifies
The dispute escalated after Niger introduced a new mining regulation in August 2024, imposing a 25 million CFA francs per km² annual fee on non-operated concession areas. Orano Mining reportedly failed to comply with this obligation, prompting a formal notice in September 2025. When the company did not rectify the situation within the legal timeframe, authorities cited non-payment as grounds for terminating its contract.
The Nigerien government also accused Orano of outstanding fiscal and environmental obligations tied to previous agreements. Since the nationalization of SOMAIR in mid-2025, the French group has filed multiple lawsuits against Niamey, with Niger’s Minister of Mines, Ousmane Abarchi, describing the actions as an attempt to disrupt uranium exports and undermine the country’s sovereignty over its resources.
This latest development deepens the rift between Niger and France, which has been widening across economic, security, and geopolitical spheres. The creation of TSUMCO SA signals Niamey’s resolve to reclaim full control over its uranium sector while addressing long-standing environmental and financial grievances.
