French Orano miner’s Niger branch suspends uranium mining from October 31, media say

Somair, the Nigerien branch of the French uranium miner Orano suspends uranium mining from October 31 due to its inability to export uranium concentrate, a French media reported.

“Somair’s worsening financial difficulties have compelled the company to suspend its operations,” the company’s spokeswoman told the news agency.

According to Orano, production of uranium concentrate at the deposit will cease from October 31 due to the inability to export it. The representative of the company pointed out that the borders of Niger with Benin are still closed.

Somair’s employees, the vast majority of whom are Niger’s citizens, will be compensated until December 31, the media added.

🪨 Niger withdrew the operating license of Orano at the Imourarenone mine, which is one of the world’s biggest uranium mines, reports said in June.