Space Industry and Business News
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Major Niger uranium mine back in public control: govt
Major Niger uranium mine back in public control: govt
by AFP Staff Writers
Niamey, Niger (AFP) June 24, 2024

Niger on Monday confirmed one of the world's biggest uranium mines had returned to public control after revoking the operating licence of French nuclear fuel producer Orano.

The company last week said it had been excluded from the Imouraren mine in northern Niger, in a move that highlighted tensions between France and the West African country's military rulers.

The government had not reacted before releasing a statement on Monday saying the Imouraren mine had returned "to the public domain of the state".

It justified revoking the licence by saying Orano "never honoured its commitments" despite two "formal notices" handed to it by the mines ministry in February 2022 and March this year.

Orano on Thursday said it had "taken note" of the withdrawal of the licence from its subsidiary Imouraren SA.

The move came despite its recent resumption of "activities" at the site, which had been fulfilled in line with the government's wishes, according to Orano.

The company added that it was "prepared to keep open all channels of communication" with the authorities while reserving the right to contest the decision in national or international courts.

The Imouraren mine sits on an estimated 200,000 tonnes of uranium, used for nuclear power and weapons.

But development was frozen after the collapse in world uranium prices following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

Niger's military rulers have vowed to review mining concessions in the country since taking power in a July 2023 coup, as part of its focus on national sovereignty.

They have also broken ties with France, the former colonial power and traditional partner, and turned towards Russia which is seeking to extend its influence in the region.

Niger in 2022 accounted for about a quarter of the natural uranium supplied to European nuclear power plants, according to data from the atomic organisation Euratom.

bh/pid/imm/rsc

ORANO

Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Niger revokes French operating licence at major uranium mine
Niamey, Niger (AFP) June 20, 2024
Niger has revoked the operating licence of French nuclear fuel producer Orano at one of the world's biggest uranium mines, the company said Thursday, in a move that highlighted tensions between France and the African country's ruling junta. Orano said it has been excluded from the Imouraren mine in northern Niger which sits on an estimated 200,000 tonnes of the metal, used for nuclear power and weapons. Mining was meant to have started at Imouraren in 2015 but development was frozen after the co ... read more

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Next-generation material for satellites could self-heal when exposed to cosmic rays

Small Changes Yield Major Advances in Materials Research

Italy seeks to reopen mines in critical minerals quest

Kyocera Installs Fine Cordierite Ceramic Mirror on ISS for Optical Communications

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Frontier Technology Chosen for $1B Military Satellite Software Contract

SES Space and Defense Successfully Demonstrates Multi-orbit, Multi-band LEO Relay

Iridium Secures Five-Year $94 Million Contract with Space Systems Command

EchoStar secures contract to provide 5G to US Navy and agencies

CIVIL NUCLEAR
CIVIL NUCLEAR
Green light for Galileo 2nd Generation satellite design

Europe's Largest Ground Segment Upgraded Without User Disruption

Magic Lane secures 3 million euro to enhance location intelligence capabilities

China Encourages BeiDou System Integration in Electric Bicycles

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Climate protest targets private jets at UK airport

Lufthansa to add environmental charge to fares

NGO denounces rising air freight pollution

Thales, Spire Global, and ESSP Collaborate on Space-Based Air Traffic Surveillance Service

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Malaysia seizes 106 illegal e-waste containers

US chip-maker Onsemi to invest $2 bn in Czech plant

Searching for the Thinnest Metallic Wire

Rocket Lab to Expand Semiconductor Production for Spacecraft with CHIPS Act Funding

CIVIL NUCLEAR
NEC and Ursa Space team up for satellite image analysis services

Lockheed Martin to Develop GeoXO Weather Satellite Constellation

Google Maps deletes AI photos of Austrian landmarks after climate change

Coordinating an airborne lab across the globe with NASA's earth science project office

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Paris river Seine over Olympics pollution limit: analysis

Air pollution linked to nearly 2,000 child deaths a day: report

Illegal gold mining eats into Peruvian Amazon

ArcelorMittal rejects report on pollution rules; Singapore beaches closed due to oil spill

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.