A single uranium mine in Namibia produced nearly twice as much uranium in 2025 as Niger did across the whole country a year earlier, underscoring a sharp divergence in the fortunes of two African producers once central to global nuclear fuel supply.
In 2025, Namibia’s Langer Heinrich mine delivered about 4.03 million pounds of uranium, equivalent to roughly 1,830 tonnes, almost double Niger’s total output of 962 tonnes in 2024, according to industry data. Niger had been Africa’s leading uranium producer a decade earlier.
Figures from the World Nuclear Association (WNA) show that Niger produced 4,116 tonnes of uranium in 2015, ranking first in Africa and fourth globally. Output at the time was driven by two major operations: the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (Somaïr) and the Compagnie minière d’Akouta (Cominak), both joint ventures between France’s Orano and the Nigerien state.
The country’s production base has since shrunk sharply. As reserves were depleted, Cominak permanently shut down in 2021, leaving Somaïr as Niger’s sole operating uranium mine. Since then, output has continued to fall amid operational, political and commercial disruptions.
Tensions between Orano and Niger’s military-led authorities escalated after the July 2023 coup. Uranium exports from Somaïr were blocked, and in 2025 the state moved to nationalise the company, ending a partnership that had lasted for several decades. While the WNA reported uranium production of 1,130 tonnes in 2023 and 962 tonnes in 2024, Niger’s authorities said last month that around 2,000 tonnes had been extracted since July 2023, without providing a detailed annual breakdown.
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The decline has pushed Niger down the global rankings, from fourth-largest uranium producer in 2015 to eighth place, at a time when global demand is rising as countries expand nuclear power to meet climate and energy security goals.
Namibia, by contrast, has consolidated its position as one of the world’s leading uranium producers. The southern African country increased output from 2,993 tonnes in 2015 to 7,333 tonnes in 2024, a rise of about 145% over ten years, according to WNA data. That growth has helped make Namibia the world’s third-largest uranium producer.
Production in Namibia is driven by three operating mines, including Langer Heinrich, which is owned by Australia-listed Paladin Energy. The mine resumed operations in 2024 after being placed on care and maintenance for six years due to low uranium prices.
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Langer Heinrich’s 2025 output alone nearly matched the entire production of Niger in 2024, highlighting both Namibia’s expanding capacity and Niger’s contraction. For the financial year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, Paladin is targeting production of between 4 million and 4.4 million pounds of uranium, equivalent to up to about 1,995 tonnes.
Namibia’s growth pipeline extends beyond existing mines. Australia-based Deep Yellow is advancing development of the Tumas uranium project, which would become the country’s fourth operating uranium mine. The company aims to bring Tumas into production by the third quarter of 2027, with expected average annual output of around 3.6 million pounds of uranium.
Industry analysts say Namibia has benefited from a stable regulatory environment, renewed investor interest as uranium prices recovered, and growing global demand linked to nuclear power expansion in Asia, Europe and the United States.
In Niger, prospects remain more uncertain. While the state has taken over operations at the former Orano-managed mine, authorities have not published official production forecasts for the coming years. Future growth could come from new projects, including the Dasa uranium mine being developed by Canada’s Global Atomic, though timelines and financing remain unclear amid political and security risks.
The contrasting trajectories of Namibia and Niger illustrate how investment climate, operational continuity and political stability have become decisive factors in global uranium supply. As nuclear power regains prominence, producers able to offer scale and reliability are strengthening their positions, while others risk falling further behind despite rich geological endowments.
