The Nigerien government formalized on May 18, 2026, during a cabinet meeting, the establishment of a national uranium mining company and the cancellation of the mining concession held by the French group Orano at the Arlit site. This decision, made under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of Niger, officially ends more than fifty years of French dominance in the country’s uranium sector.
A new state-owned entity, Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA), has taken over all assets of the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR SA), which was nationalized in 2025. The company now controls one of the world’s most significant uranium deposits, with estimated reserves of 200,000 tonnes based on available data.
Gradual transition since 2023
The removal of Orano from uranium operations did not happen overnight. Since the July 2023 coup, Niamey has systematically dismantled foreign control: revocation of the mining license in 2024, nationalization of SOMAÏR in 2025, and creation of a replacement state entity in May 2026. The name Teloua—a reference to the underground aquifer beneath the former COMINAK mine site—reflects the government’s symbolic intent behind this shift. Authorities have also accused Orano of leaving behind millions of tonnes of radioactive waste on exploited sites since the 1970s, harming local populations and ecosystems.
Orano challenges decision amid blocked exports
The French group, over 90% state-owned, has initiated multiple international arbitration proceedings against Niger. An arbitral tribunal has already ordered Niamey to halt the sale of uranium extracted from SOMAÏR, with an estimated 1,300 tonnes of concentrate in stock, valued at around €250 million by Orano. Niger’s Minister of Mines, Ousmane Abarchi, described these legal challenges as “judicial harassment.”
The outcome of the international arbitration will determine whether TSUMCO SA can sell its uranium on global markets. No official timeline for the proceedings has been disclosed.
