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The Nigerien government has announced the withdrawal of mining licenses allocated to Areva (now ORANO) and Goviex. The decision was announced after a meeting of ministers on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft decree repealing Decree No. 2009-23/PRN/MME of 20 January 2009 concerning the issuance of a large-scale uranium mining license, known as the “IMOURAREN license”, in the Agadez region, in the Arlit department, owned by the company IMOURAREN SA.
The Council also approved another draft decree repealing Decree No. 2009-007/PRN/MME of 5 January 2009. This decree concerns the approval and publication in the Official Gazette of the Mining Convention between the Republic of Niger and AREVA NC for the large-scale mining license of the Imolaren uranium mine, located in the Arlit province.
These decisions follow the revocation of a large-scale uranium mining license known as the “IMOURAREN license.”
In addition, the government revoked the “MADAOUELA I” license granted to the company GoviEX Niger Holdings Ltd by Decree No. 2016-056/PRN/MM of January 26, 2016. The license concerned uranium mining in the Arlit department. , Agadez region.
Despite the expiration of the deadline and the increase in uranium prices in the international market, GoviEX Niger Holdings Ltd has not started mining work. As a result, the Ministry of Mines issued formal notices on January 3, 2024 and April 3, 2024, but did not receive a positive response.
Faced with this situation, the State of Niger applied the provisions of article 59 of the Mining Code and of Decree No. 93-16 of March 2, 1993, which revoked the “MADAOUELA I” license, thus returning it to the public domain of the Niger State.
At the same time, the government passed several other decrees that abolished previous authorizations and agreements related to the “IMOURAREN” and “MADAOUELA I” licenses.
These measures mark an important step forward in the management of Niger’s mineral resources, aimed at ensuring that development is in the national interest.
Aïssa Altiné (Nigerian expatriate)
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