Russia-Niger MoU on nuclear energy cooperation

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Sergey Tsivilev, Minister for Energy, headed the Russian delegation for the official visit which included talks with Niger Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine, Minister of Mines Ousmane Abarchi and President Abdourahamane Tiani.

"We listened to detailed presentations on the cooperation opportunities that Niger is ready to offer. And now our teams are discussing with each other, face to face, how to realise this great potential," said Tsivilev.

He added: "As part of today's meeting, an important memorandum on cooperation in the field of peaceful atom was signed. Our task is not just to participate in uranium mining, we must create an entire system for the development of the peaceful atom in Niger. This includes the construction of power generation, so that it is available to every resident of the country, and cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine. We also agreed on the joint training of specialists in this field."

Mines minister Abarchi said that "in a world marked by instability, rapid technological change, geopolitical tensions and the growing demands of people, it has become imperative to build strategic, sustainable and balanced partnerships".

He said that they had identified priority areas of collaboration, particularly in defence, mines, oil and energy, agriculture, education and training, transport, industry, trade and finance and said they had an "ambitious strategic vision, which aims to make the mining sector a pillar of sustainable growth, economic sovereignty and social justice".

Uranium has been mined in Niger since the beginning of the 1970s. The country now produces around 5% of world uranium mining output, but operating permits for mines including GoviEx's Madouela project and Orano's Imouraren were withdrawn following a military coup in July 2023.

Somaïr, which operates the Arlit uranium mine, is 63.4% owned by France's Orano, with Niger state-owned mining assets company SOPAMIN holding 36.6%, but has been under the operational control of the Nigerien authorities since December. In June Orano said that litigation was it only possible recourse after Niger's Council of Ministers announced plans to appropriate and nationalise the joint venture.