Orano opposes Somaïr nationalisation
The French company Orano says litigation is now its only possible recourse after Niger's Council of Ministers announced plans to appropriate and nationalise the joint venture with Niger's state-owned mining assets company.
"On 19 June, 2025, the Government of Niger announced, in an official statement following its Council of Ministers meeting, its intent to appropriate Somaïr, a joint venture co-owned since 1968 by Orano and Sopamin, which represents the Nigerien State within the mining company's shareholding," Orano said.
"This expropriation move is yet a further step in the military authorities' ongoing strategy to expel Orano from Niger, following their seizure of power in 2023, despite the company's repeated efforts to engage in dialogue and cooperation.
"Orano strongly condemns this systematic campaign to dispossess the group of its mining assets, in clear violation of the agreements binding the group and the Nigerien State with respect to Somaïr. This action also reflects a broader effort to spread misinformation and undermine Orano's reputation."
Somaïr - for Société des Mines de l'Aïr - is 63.4% owned by Orano and 36.6% owned by Sopamin, and is the operator of Niger's only currently operational uranium mine at Arlit. But in December 2024, Orano reported it had lost control over its three Nigerien subsidiaries, Somaïr, Cominak and Imouraren, "due to unlawful actions taken by representatives of the Nigerien State".
Orano has filed several international arbitration proceedings against Niger. In December, it opened proceedings concerning the state's withdrawal of its mining licence for Imouraren; in January, it lodged a second arbitration to assert its rights following its loss of operational control of Somaïr; and in May it began legal proceedings after the Nigerien security services raided its offices in the capital, Niamey, and arrested the director of Orano Mining Niger.
"This litigation is now Orano's last possible recourse, after several attempts at amicable resolution have gone unanswered," the company said. "As previously stated, Orano intends to seek full compensation for the damages suffered and will assert its rights to the stock corresponding to Somaïr's production to date."
According to AFP, Niger's government has alleged that Orano had been taking a "disproportionate share" of the uranium produced at Somaïr.
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