Namibia
Niger woes prompt Orano to resume interest in Namibia's uranium

Subscribers only

Published on 11.03.2025 at 05:40 GMT Reading time 3 min

The French mining giant is considering restarting operations at its Trekkopje project in Namibia. This is due to the surge in uranium prices on the international markets and to it having been sidelined in Niger, its historic stronghold.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Namibia
The challenges facing the new US ambassador in Windhoek

The staunch Trump supporter John Giordano was appointed six months ago and intends to develop Washington's trade ties with Namibia. There are already many US players in the oil sector, but the Americans lag far behind their Chinese rivals in mining.

Subscribers only Energy, Diplomacy 18.05.2026

Guinea, Liberia, Mali
How former Endeavour CEO Montessus struck gold again in West Africa

Recruited by Burkinabè entrepreneur Idrissa Nassa, the former head of Endeavour Mining has spent more than a year setting up a new gold group in the region by restructuring the former assets of Britain's Hummingbird, with backing from US fund Orion Resources and Abu Dhabi's ADQ.

Subscribers only Mining, Commodity Traders 19.02.2026

Sebastien de Montessus in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2023.

Namibia, South Africa
Behind the failed LPG deal between PetroSA and Namibia's UAG Investments

The South African state-owned company is claiming almost $9.7m from UAG Investments for the delivery of a cargo of liquefied petroleum gas to Namibia in 2023.

Subscribers only Energy, Commodity Traders 17.06.2025

Spotlight | Namibia
From mines to oilfields, Australia's resource hunters dig into Namibia

Riding the wave of surging uranium prices, Australian mining firms have had their sights set on the African country since 2020. Their growing presence now stretches beyond uranium to other critical minerals and, to a lesser extent, oil.

Subscribers only Energy, Mining 14.05.2025

Former Energy and Mines Minister, Tom Alweendo, during the Namibia Mining Expo, in Windhoek, 7 October 2024.

Somalia
Mogadishu joins forces with Almond Energy to revive uranium exploration

The Somali company Almond Energy has become the administration's main partner in the drive to relaunch uranium exploration in the country. The government is also hoping to attract foreign investors to the sector.

Subscribers only Mining, Business 01.04.2025

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud in Mogadishu, 27 February 2025.

Niger
Conflict between Orano and Niamey flares up again

Infuriated by the junta's attempt to impose an administrator on Cominak, the French group has said it will stop funding the redevelopment plan for this historic mining site, which was operational from 1978 to 2021.

Subscribers only Mining 15.01.2025

At the Cominak mine near Arlit, Niger, 8 March 2023.

Niger
How Niger's Somair keeps running without Orano

Local managers at Société des Mines de l'Air have managed to keep it running after French parent company Orano cut the cord on 4 December. But with no uranium exports and no cash injection from shareholders, the company's future is far from certain.

Subscribers only Mining 20.12.2024

Spotlight | Niger
Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

Despite issuing a series of ultimatums to the uranium mining companies, the Nigerien authorities are struggling to find real alternatives. The problem is illustrated by the Imouraren project of the French group Orano.

Subscribers only Mining 09.05.2024

Orano CEO Nicolas Maes (left) and the Nigerien prime minister, Ali Lamine Zeine.

In Focus | Niger
Washington watches as Tehran negotiates with Niamey for 300 tonnes of uranium

Africa Intelligence can reveal the details of talks between the Niger junta and Iran for the delivery of uranium. The dizzying saga is being followed closely by Joe Biden's administration and puts the French nuclear fuel firm Orano in a delicate position.

Subscribers only Mining, Diplomacy 30.04.2024

Spotlight | Niger
The hunt for Areva's lost 'uraniumgate' millions from Niamey to Lagos

Investigations into the wealth management company Helin International have revealed details of the beneficiaries of operations by the French state-owned nuclear firm Areva in Niger in 2011. US authorities have identified a regular contractor of the US State Department, which appears to be at the heart of the Areva affair.

Subscribers only Business 27.04.2023

The Kennedy bridge at dusk in Niamey in September 2013.

In Focus | Africa
Botswana and Tanzania lead African charge to cash in on growing uranium fever

Germany may be phasing out nuclear power but demand for uranium in the rest of Europe and Asia is set to increase, as industrialised nations scramble for sources of decarbonised electricity. In Africa, countries such as Tanzania and Botswana are trying to take advantage of the trend to get their uranium production off the ground and join Namibia and Niger in the select group of African countries that produce yelllowcake.

Subscribers only Mining 13.12.2021

Africa
Areva investigation: French judges comb through Helin's offshore company labyrinth

The French judicial authorities, which are investigating two transactions carried out by the former Areva group's mining division, are concentrating their inquiries on wealth management company Helin, which worked for Areva but also financed the activities of Sébastien de Montessus, former director of the French nuclear power group's mining division.

Subscribers only Mining 23.02.2021

Africa
French judges speed up investigation of Areva's 2011 uranium sale

A French court continues to investigate the loss-making sale of 5m tonnes of uranium to Niger by French group Areva in 2011.

Subscribers only Mining 13.01.2021

On our other sites

Special offer: Only 3d and 5h to take advantage of it

Consult our offers

This offer is open to all new subscribers and runs until 31/07/2026

Headlines

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo patrolling in Fizi territory in South Kivu province, DRC, 31 January 2026.

Spotlight | DRC Despite major reinforcements, Kinshasa fails to regain control in South Kivu Mozambique TotalEnergies finds new channel in attempt to reopen talks with the presidency Ghana Beyond the hype, Ibrahim Mahama's legal offensive stalls

The Damang gold mine, near Aboso, Ghana, in 2025.

Sudan Quintet postpones its Addis Ababa round of talks Morocco Former Italian minister drives Rabat's agricultural defence strategy in Brussels

Mario Mauro, then Italian defence minister, in Brussels in 2013.

Central African Republic Touadéra keeps key security asset Hassan Bouba within his fold Kenya Defence Ministry alarmed by resurgence of Somali pirates Gabon Sovereign fund comes under scrutiny from the debt-clearance task force

Headlines

Sudan Quintet postpones its Addis Ababa round of talks Morocco Former Italian minister drives Rabat's agricultural defence strategy in Brussels

Namibia
Niger woes prompt Orano to resume interest in Namibia's uranium

The French mining giant is considering restarting operations at its Trekkopje project in Namibia. This is due to the surge in uranium prices on the international markets and to it having been sidelined in Niger, its historic stronghold.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Read also

Namibia
The challenges facing the new US ambassador in Windhoek

Guinea, Liberia, Mali
How former Endeavour CEO Montessus struck gold again in West Africa

Namibia, South Africa
Behind the failed LPG deal between PetroSA and Namibia's UAG Investments

Spotlight | Namibia
From mines to oilfields, Australia's resource hunters dig into Namibia

Somalia
Mogadishu joins forces with Almond Energy to revive uranium exploration

Niger
Conflict between Orano and Niamey flares up again

Niger
How Niger's Somair keeps running without Orano

Spotlight | Niger
Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

In Focus | Niger
Washington watches as Tehran negotiates with Niamey for 300 tonnes of uranium

Spotlight | Niger
The hunt for Areva's lost 'uraniumgate' millions from Niamey to Lagos

In Focus | Africa
Botswana and Tanzania lead African charge to cash in on growing uranium fever

Africa
Areva investigation: French judges comb through Helin's offshore company labyrinth

Africa
French judges speed up investigation of Areva's 2011 uranium sale

UN crisis communications, changes at Nardello Dubai, EPEE in Niger

StockholmSoftware firm lands UN crisis communications contract

DubaiNardello exec step down

France/NigerOrano and EPEE talks on closing uranium mines security contract underway

Headlines

Related topics to this article

Headlines

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Indigo Publications' websites

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Namibia Niger woes prompt Orano to resume interest in Namibia's uranium

The French mining giant is considering restarting operations at its Trekkopje project in Namibia. This is due to the surge in uranium prices on the international markets and to it having been sidelined in Niger, its historic stronghold.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Read also

Namibia The challenges facing the new US ambassador in Windhoek

Guinea, Liberia, Mali How former Endeavour CEO Montessus struck gold again in West Africa

Namibia, South Africa Behind the failed LPG deal between PetroSA and Namibia's UAG Investments

Spotlight | Namibia From mines to oilfields, Australia's resource hunters dig into Namibia

Somalia Mogadishu joins forces with Almond Energy to revive uranium exploration

Niger Conflict between Orano and Niamey flares up again

Niger How Niger's Somair keeps running without Orano

Spotlight | Niger Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

In Focus | Niger Washington watches as Tehran negotiates with Niamey for 300 tonnes of uranium

Spotlight | Niger The hunt for Areva's lost 'uraniumgate' millions from Niamey to Lagos

In Focus | Africa Botswana and Tanzania lead African charge to cash in on growing uranium fever

Africa Areva investigation: French judges comb through Helin's offshore company labyrinth

Africa French judges speed up investigation of Areva's 2011 uranium sale

UN crisis communications, changes at Nardello Dubai, EPEE in Niger

StockholmSoftware firm lands UN crisis communications contract

DubaiNardello exec step down

France/NigerOrano and EPEE talks on closing uranium mines security contract underway

Headlines

Related topics to this article

Headlines

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Namibia
Niger woes prompt Orano to resume interest in Namibia's uranium

Namibia
The challenges facing the new US ambassador in Windhoek

Guinea, Liberia, Mali
How former Endeavour CEO Montessus struck gold again in West Africa

Namibia, South Africa
Behind the failed LPG deal between PetroSA and Namibia's UAG Investments

Spotlight | Namibia
From mines to oilfields, Australia's resource hunters dig into Namibia

Somalia
Mogadishu joins forces with Almond Energy to revive uranium exploration

Niger
Conflict between Orano and Niamey flares up again

Niger
How Niger's Somair keeps running without Orano

Spotlight | Niger
Junta calls bluff of foreign uranium miners

In Focus | Niger
Washington watches as Tehran negotiates with Niamey for 300 tonnes of uranium

Spotlight | Niger
The hunt for Areva's lost 'uraniumgate' millions from Niamey to Lagos

In Focus | Africa
Botswana and Tanzania lead African charge to cash in on growing uranium fever

Africa
Areva investigation: French judges comb through Helin's offshore company labyrinth

Africa
French judges speed up investigation of Areva's 2011 uranium sale