Niger’s government has outlined how it intends to divide uranium output from the Somaïr mine at Arlit, following the nationalization of the operation formerly controlled by France’s Orano Mining, intensifying tensions between the two countries.
In a televised address, President Abdourahamane Tiani reaffirmed that uranium produced prior to Niger assuming control would be allocated to Orano in proportion to its historical stake, while all output since the nationalization remains the property of the Nigerien state. “France is entitled to 63.4 percent of the 156.231 tons produced before nationalization. If they want it shipped tomorrow, we will cover transport costs ourselves,” Tiani said. “But everything produced since then belongs to Niger. And it will remain Nigerien, Inshallah.”
The announcement follows months of legal and economic wrangling over the Arlit site, which has been operated by Orano since the 1970s. The concession, covering roughly 360 square kilometers in northern Niger, was granted for 75 years under an operating licence. Niamey argues that subsoil ownership has always remained a sovereign prerogative, while Orano has maintained it held legitimate claims over production and revenues.
In late 2025, Nigerien ministers of Mines and Justice presented figures showing that Orano’s share of uranium sold over five decades exceeded its equity stake, highlighting what they described as an imbalance in the historical sale of Nigerien uranium. They also emphasized that public funds invested since July 2023—amounting to tens of billions of CFA francs—support the state’s exclusive claim to uranium produced after nationalization.
Orano disputes the government’s position and has initiated proceedings at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The French group maintains that it retains legal rights over part of the uranium stockpile and is seeking compensation for the takeover.
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The dispute has come at a time of sharply rising global uranium prices, driven by renewed international interest in nuclear energy as nations seek low-carbon power sources. Spot prices have surged from under $66,000 per ton in early 2021 to more than $180,000 per ton by late 2025, enhancing the financial significance of Niger’s output. Officials say roughly 2,000 tons of uranium have been produced under state control since nationalization, a portion now claimed exclusively by Niger.
Economic analysts say the dispute underscores Niger’s broader strategy of asserting greater control over its natural resources. The government has emphasized that strategic minerals such as uranium are critical to public revenue, energy policy, and national sovereignty.
“Sovereignty over natural resources is a cornerstone of Niger’s economic policy,” said a mining sector analyst in Niamey. “The nationalization of Somaïr and the insistence on keeping post-takeover production within state control reflect both economic and political imperatives, especially in the context of high global uranium prices.”
Orano has historically played a key role in global uranium supply chains, with Somaïr contributing a significant portion of Niger’s exports. Uranium sales generate critical foreign exchange for the country, underpinning public finances and enabling investment in infrastructure and social services.
Observers say a resolution at ICSID could set a precedent for other African countries seeking to renegotiate terms with long-standing foreign operators. Similar disputes over mining contracts and resource ownership have emerged across the continent as governments seek to capture greater economic benefits from strategic commodities.
Pending resolution of the dispute, Niger is expected to continue managing Somaïr’s operations independently, maintaining production levels and exploring opportunities to increase revenues from rising uranium prices. The government has emphasized that all uranium extracted since nationalization will remain under Nigerien control, a position it says is consistent with international law and its sovereign rights over the country’s mineral resources.
Somaïr is one of Niger’s largest uranium producers, located at the Arlit concession in the country’s northern Agadez region. Established in the early 1970s, it has been operated for decades by Orano Mining (formerly Areva), which held a majority stake in the venture. Uranium from Somaïr has historically been a critical export for Niger, generating substantial foreign exchange and underpinning the country’s role in the global nuclear energy market.
The Arlit concession covers approximately 360 square kilometers and was originally granted under a 75-year operating licence in 1968. Nigerien authorities maintain that the subsoil resources remain sovereign property of the state, while the licence granted foreign operators the right to extract and sell uranium under defined conditions.
In 2023, Niger nationalized Somaïr, taking control of the operation from Orano, which has led to an ongoing dispute over the ownership and revenue from uranium stockpiles extracted before and after nationalization. Niamey asserts that the portion of uranium produced before the takeover corresponds to Orano’s historical stake and can be credited to the French group, while all subsequent output belongs to Niger. Orano contests this position and has filed proceedings with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
Global demand for uranium has surged in recent years, driven by renewed interest in nuclear power as countries seek low-carbon energy alternatives. Spot prices have risen sharply, from below $66,000 per ton in early 2021 to over $180,000 per ton in late 2025. This price environment enhances the economic significance of Niger’s uranium production, making the resolution of the ownership dispute critical for the government’s revenue strategy.
The nationalization has prompted Nigerien authorities to assert that public investment after July 2023—estimated at tens of billions of CFA francs—justifies their exclusive claim over production since the takeover. Niger also contends that historical sales by Orano exceeded the company’s equity stake, creating a long-standing imbalance in revenue sharing.
The dispute is part of a broader trend in Africa, where resource-rich states are increasingly reasserting control over strategic minerals and negotiating new terms with long-standing foreign operators. Uranium remains a strategic resource, particularly for countries relying on nuclear energy, and Niger is among the world’s top producers.
