Niger is negotiating the possible revival of the Madaouela uranium project with Australia’s Atomic Eagle, signalling a potential resolution to a long-running dispute over mining rights as the West African nation seeks to boost uranium production and strengthen state control over its mineral resources.
Officials from Niger’s Ministry of Mines met with a delegation from Atomic Eagle on June 15 following several days of discussions aimed at drafting a new mining agreement that could pave the way for the project’s restart.
Atomic Eagle confirmed that its chairman and chief executive officer visited Niger between June 7 and June 15 but stressed that negotiations remain non-binding and that no final agreement has yet been reached.
The discussions follow a dispute that began in July 2024 when Niger revoked the mining permit for the Madaouela project, previously held by Canadian-listed GoviEx Uranium since 2015, and returned the concession to state control.
GoviEx challenged the decision, arguing that it may not have complied with Niger’s mining regulations, and subsequently launched international arbitration proceedings in December 2024 seeking either reinstatement of its rights or financial compensation.
In February 2025, Niger and GoviEx signed a letter of intent outlining a framework for negotiations, leading to a temporary suspension of arbitration proceedings before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the World Bank’s investment dispute tribunal.
Since then, GoviEx has been acquired by Atomic Eagle, which has continued discussions with Nigerien authorities.
A successful agreement could provide a significant boost to Niger’s uranium industry, which has experienced a sharp decline in production over the past decade.
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Official figures show uranium output fell from 4,116 metric tonnes in 2015 to just 962 tonnes in 2024.
According to a feasibility study completed in 2022, the Madaouela project has the potential to produce approximately 50.8 million pounds of uranium over a 19-year mine life.
Niger’s military-led government has framed the negotiations as part of a broader strategy to secure more favourable terms from foreign mining investors and increase national benefits from the country’s natural resources.
Key details of a possible agreement remain undisclosed, including ownership arrangements, revenue-sharing mechanisms, development timelines and the future of the suspended arbitration proceedings.
Even if an agreement is concluded, analysts note that commercial production remains several years away, as the project would still require a final investment decision and financing before mine construction can begin.
The government’s willingness to negotiate with Atomic Eagle contrasts sharply with its approach to French nuclear fuel company Orano, formerly one of Niger’s most significant uranium sector partners.
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Niger revoked Orano’s permit for the giant Imouraren uranium project in 2024 and later nationalised Somaïr, a uranium mining company in which the French group previously held a 63.4 percent stake.
The dispute between Orano and Niger remains the subject of multiple legal proceedings.
In September 2025, an ICSID tribunal ordered Niger not to sell or transfer uranium stockpiles claimed by Orano while arbitration remains ongoing, effectively preventing the government from marketing the material internationally until the matter is resolved.
The outcome of the Madaouela negotiations is likely to be closely watched by investors as a test of Niger’s evolving approach to foreign participation in its strategic mining sector.
