Niger nationalizes uranium sector, ends Orano’s dominance in Arlit

On May 18, 2026, the Nigerien government, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, officially announced in a cabinet meeting the establishment of a state-owned uranium mining company and the termination of French group Orano’s mining concession at the Arlit site. This landmark decision concludes over five decades of French involvement in Niger’s uranium industry.

The newly formed public entity, named Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA), assumes control of all assets previously held by the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR SA), which was nationalized in 2025. The Arlit site, now under Nigerien management, ranks among the world’s most significant uranium deposits, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons according to available data.

Step-by-step transition since 2023

The removal of Orano from the uranium sector was not an abrupt move. Following the July 2023 coup, Niamey systematically implemented measures: revocation of the exploitation permit in 2024, nationalization of SOMAÏR in 2025, and the creation of a state-run replacement entity in May 2026. The name Teloua, inspired by the underground aquifer beneath the former COMINAK mine, reflects the authorities’ symbolic intent behind this shift. The government has also accused Orano of leaving millions of tons of radioactive waste on sites exploited since the 1970s, posing risks to local populations and ecosystems.

Orano challenges, exports halted

The French conglomerate, with over 90% of its shares held by the French state, has initiated multiple international arbitration proceedings against Niger. An arbitral tribunal has already ordered Niamey to refrain from selling uranium extracted from SOMAÏR, whose in-situ stock is estimated at 1,300 tons of concentrate, representing a market value of approximately 250 million euros, according to Orano. Ousmane Abarchi, Niger’s Minister of Mines, described these legal challenges as « judicial harassment ».

The outcome of the dispute in international arbitration will determine TSUMCO SA’s ability to market its uranium globally. No procedural deadlines have been officially disclosed at this time.