Niger signs deal to relaunch uranium project

Niger's government said Wednesday it had signed a new agreement with the Madaouela Mining Company to relaunch a uranium mining project in the north of the country.

The mining ministry said the agreement provides for an initial fee of $10 million, capacity-building for the mining administration, local development and the creation of about 1,000 jobs for young Nigeriens.

Madaouela Mining Company is 60 percent owned by Australia's Atomic Eagle group and 40 percent by the Niger government.

Niger's military authorities, who took power in a 2023 coup, have said they want greater sovereignty over the country's mineral resources, including uranium.

Uranium mining has also been part of a dispute between Niger and France. Niger's military authorities nationalised the local subsidiary of Orano, a mining company 90 percent owned by the French state. Orano has launched legal proceedings against Niger, accusing the junta of confiscating its assets.