The Nigerien government has taken a decisive step to reclaim control over its uranium resources by terminating the long-standing concession held by French firm Orano Mining. In its place, a state-owned enterprise named TSUMCO SA (Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company) has been established to oversee mining operations in the Arlit region.
During a ministerial session chaired by President Abdourahamane Tiani, the government adopted a decree formalizing the creation of TSUMCO SA. This move effectively ends Orano’s 75-year exploitation rights, originally granted in 1978, over the Arlit uranium deposit. The decision follows the nationalization of Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAIR), which had been under Orano’s management.
Environmental and economic motivations behind the decision
Nigerien authorities justified the restructuring by citing severe environmental damage to soil, water resources, and Saharan ecosystems in the mining zones around Arlit. The name Teloua, inspired by a local underground aquifer, symbolizes both a commitment to environmental restoration and a tribute to local heritage. Officials emphasized that this decision serves as both a corrective measure and a symbolic act of reclaiming sovereignty over natural resources.
A legal standoff with Orano
Tensions escalated after Niger introduced a new regulatory framework in August 2024, imposing an annual surface royalty of 25 million West African CFA francs per square kilometer on unexploited mining perimeters. Orano Mining, which failed to comply with the payment deadline in September 2025, received a formal notice before the concession was revoked. The government also asserts that Orano remains liable for unpaid taxes and environmental obligations under previous agreements.
Since the nationalization of SOMAIR in June 2025, Orano has initiated multiple legal challenges against Niger’s authorities. The Nigerien Minister of Mines, Ousmane Abarchi, described these actions as “judicial harassment”, aimed at obstructing the export of Nigerien uranium to international markets. With the establishment of TSUMCO SA, these disputes are expected to intensify, further straining bilateral relations amid broader geopolitical shifts.
