Niger takes full control of uranium sector with new state-run company

The Niger government has formally established a national uranium mining company and revoked the mining concession held by the French firm Orano at the Arlit site, as confirmed in a cabinet meeting on May 18, 2026. This landmark decision, ratified under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic, signifies the definitive end of France’s six-decade dominance over Niger’s uranium industry.

The newly created public entity, Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA), now oversees all assets previously held by the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR SA), which was nationalized in 2025. This transition places one of the world’s largest uranium deposits under national control, with estimated reserves totaling 200,000 tonnes.

Strategic transition unfolding since 2023

The removal of Orano was not an abrupt move. Since the July 2023 coup, Niamey has systematically dismantled foreign control over its uranium sector. The process began with the withdrawal of Orano‘s operating license in 2024, followed by the nationalization of SOMAÏR in 2025 and culminated in the establishment of TSUMCO SA in May 2026. The name Teloua—inspired by the underground aquifer beneath the former COMINAK mine—reflects the government’s symbolic intent to reclaim sovereignty over its resources. Authorities have also accused Orano of leaving millions of tons of radioactive waste across exploited sites since the 1970s, posing severe risks to local populations and ecosystems.

Orano challenges decision while exports remain stalled

The French conglomerate, majority-owned by the French state, has initiated multiple international arbitration proceedings against Niger. An arbitral tribunal has already issued an injunction preventing Niamey from selling uranium extracted from SOMAÏR, which contains an estimated 1,300 tonnes of concentrate valued at approximately €250 million by Orano. The Nigerien Minister of Mines, Ousmane Abarchi, dismissed these legal challenges as « judicial harassment ».

The outcome of the arbitration dispute will determine whether TSUMCO SA can export its uranium to global markets. At this stage, no procedural deadlines have been publicly disclosed.