For more than 50 years, Niger's mining companies SOMAÏR and COMINAK have been developing value from the country's uranium potential by mining déposits located in the northwest of the country in the desert region of the Aïr. Since the 1970s, industrial activity generated by site operations has been a major asset for regional and national economic and societal development. Following the depletion of its resources, the COMINAK underground mine will cease production on March 31, 2021. However, the site's redevelopment and environmental monitoring work will continue for at least 20 years. A third site, Imouraren, is currently under study for its operation.
Creating the conditions and carrying out actions for the continuity of uranium mining operations in northern Niger is the cornerstone of Orano’s mutually beneficial relationship with Niger.
• In 2019, 2,982 tons of uranium produced by the two operating mines.
• More than 50 years of mining activity.
• Average grade: 1.9 kg of uranium per ton of ore at the SOMAÏR mine.
• More than 50 years of mining activity.
• Average grade: 1.9 kg of uranium per ton of ore at the SOMAÏR mine.
Three mining sites in the Nigerien desert
Discovered in the late 1950s by the CEA exploration teams, the uranium-bearing zone has enabled an entire uranium mining industry to develop, led by the SOMAÏR and COMINAK mining companies. COMINAK will stop its production on March 2021 following the exhaustion of its resources. Orano is committed to responsible closure, in close collaboration with the other shareholders of the company. The Imouraren project, currently paused, will go into production
depending on market conditions.
SOMAÏR, an open-pitmine
SOMAÏR (Société des Mines de l’Aïr) – 63.4% owned by Orano and 36.66% owned by Sopamin (Société du Patrimoine des Mines du Niger) – operates multiple fields near the city of Arlit. Extracted from an open-pit mine, the ore is treated by heap leaching or dynamic leaching.
• An open-pit horizontal sedimentary deposit, 165-230 feet deep.
• Production capacity of 2000 to 2,500 tons of uranium per year.
• Since the start of operations in 1971, production of more than 70,000 tons.
• Production capacity of 2000 to 2,500 tons of uranium per year.
• Since the start of operations in 1971, production of more than 70,000 tons.
SOMAÏR continues to invest to discover new uranium resources and extend the life of the mine. Numerous initiatives have been launched to ensure that the operation of SOMAÏR continues beyond 2035, through technical optimizations and digitization. They help improve the economy, and quality and safety of operations.
COMINAK, underground uranium mine
COMINAK (Compagnie Minière d’Akouta) is 59% owned by Orano, 31% by SOPAMIN (Niger) and 10% by Enusa (Enusa Industrias Avanzadas SA, Spain).
Orano Mining holds 59% of the capital in COMINAK since the end of February 2021 after acquisition of the stake held by one of the historical shareholders, the Japanese company OURD (25%).
COMINAK produced more than 75,000 t of uranium during 47 years of mining at Akouta, Akola and Ebba. Following the depletion of resources, the Board of Directors of COMINAK voted in October 2019 to stop production on March 31, 2021.
In consultation with the Nigerien administrations and its shareholders, COMINAK is leading a project to remediate its industrial site in a responsible manner and communicates continuously and transparently with stakeholders.
Operations to remediate the site are expected to last for at least ten years. Environmental monitoring will continue after completion of the remediation work for a period of at least 5 years, at the end of which a review will be carried out. These works will make it possible to hand back a site that is safe and compliant with national standards, international recommendations and Orano standards in terms of safety and radiation protection.
Imouraren project, the mine of the future
Located 80 kilometers south of Arlit and 160 km north of Agadez, this deposit discovered in 1966 by CEA contains some of the largest reserves in the world. Following a feasibility study completed at the end of 2007, Orano obtained a permit to mine the deposit at the start of 2009. Works to bring the site into production were put on hold and the site was "mothballed" in 2015 awaiting more favorable market conditions.The idea of examining alternative methods of mining the Imouraren deposit was discussed, agreed upon with the Nigerien authorities and specified in the partnership agreement (Accord Global de Partenariat – AGP) signed by Orano and the State of Niger in May 2023.
In view of the favorable market conditions, and at the authorities' request, at the end of April 2024, Orano submitted a concrete technical proposal to the State of Niger, allowing for a swift start of the Imouraren project and recommenced the start of works in June 2024.
On June 20, 2024, the company Imouraren SA was informed by the Nigerien authorities of the withdrawal of its permit to mine the deposit of the same name. Imouraren SA and Orano consider that the withdrawal of the permit does not comply with the agreements concluded and the licenses granted and reserve the right the right to initiate any administrative and legal proceedings to protect their interests.
Imouraren SA is 63.52 %-owned by Orano, 33.35 %-owned by SOMAPIN and the State of Niger and 3.13%-owned by KHNP.
• Site : 193 square miles.
• Reserves of more than 174,000 tons of uranium after recovery.
• Annual production capacity of 5,000 tons and lifespan of 35 years.
• Reserves of more than 174,000 tons of uranium after recovery.
• Annual production capacity of 5,000 tons and lifespan of 35 years.
- Canada To secure 20 years of supply to its international clients, Orano Canada explores new uranium-bearing lands as well as re-develops end-of-life sites.
- Kazakhstan Created in 1997 by Orano and Kazatomprom in Kazakhstan KATCO operates the world’s largest SRI uranium mine.
- Leading uranium producer With mines operating in Canada, Kazakhstan and Niger, Orano is a leading world producer of uranium.