The ignored war in Africa continues. Now, uranium in Niger is being transferred from France to Russia.
– France sent in special forces to Niger in 2013, to protect French state owned uranium operator Areva (Reuters; France24) “According to a 2008 report by a French parliamentary committee, about 18 per cent of the raw material used to power France’s 58 nuclear reactors came from Niger in 2008.”
– Operation Serval started on January 11 2013 and ended on July 15th 2014 (replaced by Operation Barkhane, below)
– Operation Barkhane started on 1 August 2014 and formally ended on 9 November 2022
– 75% of Niger’s GDP comes from uranium exports
– 70% of France’s energy is produced from nuclear power plants; 20% of France’s imported uranium comes from Niger.
– Most known (and surveyed) uranium deposit in Mali is near Falea, according to multiple sources including the World Nuclear Association
– Uranium deposits have been found in the Iforas (mountain range in Mali and Algeria), which is the exact spot where the Wagner Group just suffered massive losses near the commune of Tinzaouaten
– June, 2024: “Niger’s military government has revoked the operating license of French nuclear fuel producer Orano at one of the world’s biggest uranium mines, as it continues to cut ties with former colonial power France.” (AJ)
– Bloomberg reported on June 2 [2024] that Russian state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom seeks to take over Orano’s uranium assets in Niger and was in initial talks with the Nigerien junta. (UW)
– Although GoviEx still has a page on their website explaining their Falea project, their last mention of the mine in Mali related to a deal which had fallen apart to sell their assets to African Enerfy Metals Inc. Statement here: GovEx Uranium provides update on the sale of the Falea Exploration Project (June 3, 2023)
– GoviEx had their mine in Niger taken from them, after the coup, and announced the issue on July 4 of this year HERE, and again on July 17th HERE.
– Global Atomic ($GLATF) also has uranium mining assets in Niger.
Publicly traded uranium miners with majority of operations in US:
– Energy Fuels ($UUUU)
– Uranium Energy Corp ($UEC) – includes Canad and Paraguay operations
– Ur-Energy ($URG)
– Western Uranium and Vanadium ($WSTRF)
– Strathmore Plus Uranium ($SUUFF)
– enCore Energy Corp ($EU)
– Anfield Energy ($ANLDF)
