The Nigerien government formally announced on May 18, 2026, during a cabinet meeting, the establishment of a national uranium mining company and the revocation of the mining concession previously held by the French group Orano at the Arlit site. This landmark decision, approved under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic, concludes more than fifty years of French involvement in the country’s uranium industry.
The newly created public entity, Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA), has taken over all assets from the Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR SA), which was nationalized in 2025. TSUMCO SA now oversees one of the world’s most significant uranium deposits, with estimated reserves of 200,000 tons based on available data.
Step-by-step transition since 2023
The removal of Orano did not happen overnight. Following the July 2023 coup d’état, Niamey has systematically implemented measures: revocation of the exploitation permit in 2024, nationalization of SOMAÏR in 2025, and the creation of a state-run replacement structure in May 2026. The name “Teloua” — referencing the underground aquifer beneath the former COMINAK mine — symbolizes the government’s intent to underscore this shift. Authorities have accused Orano of leaving millions of tons of radioactive waste at sites operated since the 1970s, harming local populations and ecosystems.
Orano challenges the decision as exports remain halted
The French group, with over 90% of its shares owned 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 existing stock amounts to roughly 1,300 tons of concentrate, valued at approximately 250 million euros according to Orano. The Nigerien Minister of Mines, Ousmane Abarchi, described these legal actions as “a form of judicial harassment.”
The outcome of the arbitration will determine whether TSUMCO SA can sell its uranium on global markets. No official timeline has been provided for the resolution of the dispute.
