"Reflecting Diplomatic Changes After Coup
Licenses May Transfer to Russian Companies"
The military government of Niger in West Africa has revoked the operating license of the French state-owned nuclear power company for the country's largest uranium mine.
According to major foreign media on the 22nd, the French state-owned nuclear power company Orano announced on the 20th that it had received an order from the Niger military government to withdraw from the Imouraren mine in northern Niger. The Niger Ministry of Mines had previously warned Orano that if mining development did not begin by the 19th, the operating license would be revoked. Orano stated that it resumed activities at the Imouraren mine site recently in response to the military government's demands, but ultimately the license was canceled.
In a statement, Orano said, "We keep all communication channels open with the Niger military authorities regarding this issue" and "We reserve the right to challenge the revocation of the mining license in domestic or international courts."
The Imouraren mine, located in the Agadez region of northern Niger, is one of Niger's largest uranium mines, accounting for about one-quarter of the natural uranium supplied to Europe.
Orano received the mining operation license in 2009 and began mining in 2012, but after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan caused uranium prices to plummet, development was halted in 2015.
However, there is also analysis that the revocation of the license for the French state-owned nuclear company may reflect the changing geopolitical interests of Niger following last year's coup. Russian companies have shown interest in the Imouraren uranium mine, and there is a judgment that the activities of Russian companies and mercenaries in Niger are rapidly increasing.
One of the world's poorest countries, Niger saw the military detain President Mohamed Bazoum and seize power in July last year. Since then, the Niger military government has strengthened cooperation with neighboring military governments such as Mali and Burkina Faso, which oppose the West including France, and has shifted its diplomatic direction toward Russia. Mali and Burkina Faso, along with Niger, were former French colonies, and after military regimes took power through coups in the past three years, all French troops stationed there have withdrawn.
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