By Enyichukwu Enemanna
French state-owned nuclear fuel company Orano is considering the sale of its uranium assets in Niger, arising from deteriorating relations with the junta-led West African country, the Financial Times reported on Saturday, quoting sources familiar with the matter.
Heritage Times HT had reported that the uranium miner earlier in the week said it had filed a legal action before a court in the capital, challenging the “arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and unjust confiscation of property” involving its staff and assets in the country.
In a statement, Orano said its priority remained the ongoing international arbitration process, adding that “several parties have expressed their interest in the mining assets of the group in Niger and are at liberty to submit offers if they wish to”.
The firm said it had been unable to establish communication with its mining director in Niger, Ibrahim Courmo, who was taken to the headquarters of the country’s external intelligence agency, Reuters quoted sources in the General Directorate of External Documentation and Surveillance as saying last week.
It said the Nigerien security officials last week carried out a raid on its subsidiary offices in Niamey, including Orano Mining, Somair, Cominak and Imouraren SA, where mobile phones and electronic devices belonging to the staff were confiscated.
In early December last year, Orano said Niger’s military-led government, which seized power in a coup in 2023, had taken control of the Somair mine, of which Orano owns about 63%, with the government holding the remaining stake.
The company also said it had a mining permit for its subsidiary Imouraren revoked in June 2024.
