Niger invites Russian firms to exploit uranium, other resources

In the midst of an ongoing conflict with erstwhile colonial ruler France, Niger's mining minister stated on Wednesday that the country wants Russian companies to invest in the production of uranium and other natural resources.

As ties deteriorated with the military junta that took control of Niger in July 2023, French nuclear company Orano suspended uranium production in the country last month.

In an interview with Russia's Ria Novosti news agency, mining minister Ousmane Abarchi stated, "We have already met with Russian companies that are interested in coming to explore and exploit Niger's natural resources… not only uranium."

"The French government has stated through its head of state that it does not recognise the Niger authorities with regard to French companies," he said.

In this instance, is it feasible for the State of Niger to accept that French companies continue to exploit our natural resources?”

Abarchi’s comments come with several West African countries recently having downgraded historical ties with France, turning instead towards Russia and other countries for strategic partnerships.

Niger’s military rulers have vowed to revamp rules regulating the mining of raw materials by foreign companies in what is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer.
Orano has criticised the junta's June revocation of a permit for Imouraren, one of the world's greatest uranium resources, and the fact that exporting the raw material is impossible because Niger's border with Benin was blocked for security concerns, according to Niamey.