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(last updated 20 Jul 2010)
The following companies are performing uranium prospection and/or exploration in Niger:
Bayswater Uranium Corporation 
(planned),
Areva NC,
Greencastle Resources Ltd. (planned),
Forte Energy NL (planned),
Southampton Ventures Inc. ,
North Atlantic Resources Ltd. ,
Selier Energy Niger SARL ,
Anglo-Canadian Uranium Corp. (planned),
China National Uranium Corporation (CNUC),
Société des Mines d'Azelik (SOMINA),
Global Atomic Fuels Corporation ,
Homeland Uranium Inc. ,
Trendfield Holdings SA ,
Indo Energy Ltd (UK),
NGM Resources Ltd ,
Semafo Inc. ,
Orezone Gold Corporation ,
Niger Resources Inc. ,
Brighton Energy Ltd ,
Rockgate Capital Corp. ,
COJ Commodity Investments Ltd (UK),
Agadez Ltd (UK),
Taurian Resources Pvt Ltd. ,
Rio Tinto,
ATI Petroleum ,
Niger Uranium Limited,
Niger Uranium SA,
Nordic Diamonds Ltd. ,
Dhanani Holding Niger,
La Société Salamat Mining Niger,
Island Arc Exploration Corp. (application),
GoviEX Niger Holdings Ltd. ,
Artemis Resources Ltd ,
Oklo Uranium Ltd ,
Aura Energy Ltd ,
Richmond Energy Corp. (planned),
Brinkley Mining Plc ,
Semmous Lion Mining Ltd. ,
Earthstone Uranium FZE ,
Signet Mining Services Ltd ,
Niger Mining Services SARL
Opposition to uranium mining in Niger:
Aghir in'Man ,
Collectif "Areva ne fera pas la loi au Niger" ,
Collectif Tchinaghen
announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with African country Niger to import an annual 400 tons of uranium used for nuclear power. The promised annual 400 tons comprises 10 percent of the uranium used at home for a year. The state-run company also plans to buy a five-percent stake in a uranium mine being developed by Niger.
(Chosunilbo Mar 20, 2009)
, a diversified multinational group headed by non-resident Indian Pankaj Shah, has, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Earthstone Uranium FZE, entered into an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Niger, whereby the Republic of Niger will grant Earthstone Uranium four exploration permits for uranium and associated elements.
The four permits totalling about 2,000 sq. km. are part of the Tim Mersoi sedimentary basin. These permits in Niger are in regions now producing uranium, including the Akouta underground mine and Arlit open pit mine operated by Areva.
(The Hindu Dec. 3, 2008)
has recently won a contract which gives it exclusive rights over 3,000 sq. km. of the Sahara Desert known to be rich in deposits of uranium. According to the estimates of the Managing Director of the company, Sachin Bajla, the area in the Arlit region is likely to hold at least 30,000 tonnes of uranium. This is the first time any Indian has won a contract for uranium exploration and mining anywhere in the world.
Areva sees 2013 start-up at Niger uranium mine: French nuclear group Areva said Tuesday (July 20) it hoped to have its huge uranium mine at Imouraren in northern Niger operational by the end of 2013. The mine is expected to produce 5,000 tonnes of uranium a year and represents an investment of more than 1.2 billion euros (1.5 billion dollars). (AFP July 20, 2010)
Imouraren uranium mine startup delayed: French nuclear energy group Areva said on Friday (Feb. 26) it will start producing uranium at its Imouraren mine in Niger in 2013 or 2014, rather than 2012 as planned, because of fallout from the global financial crisis. The mine is still expected to produce 5,000 tonnes per year, Areva said. (Reuters Feb. 26, 2010)
In Niger, Areva should invest 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in the Imouraren project, scheduled to come on stream in 2012. The project is already delayed a year because of political turbulence in the country. "We will decide in 2011-2012 whether we should scale it for 2,000 tons or 5,000 tons or even 7,000 tons," Sébastien de Montessus, director of Areva's mining business unit said. The current uranium price (US$ 55 / lb U3O8) wouldn't be enough to make an investment of $500 million to $1.5 billion profitable, De Montessus said. "The market price has to go up to $70 to $80." (Bloomberg June 23, 2009)
On May 4, 2009, the foundation stone was laid for the Imouraren uranium mine project. (AFP May 4, 2009)
On Jan. 5, 2009, Areva announced the receipt of a licence to operate the Imouraren mine. Mining is due to begin in 2012.
On July 31, 2008, Areva announced the receipt of the environmental approval for its Imouraren uranium mine project. The approval is part of the documentation for the exploitation permit applied for by Areva on May 15, 2008.
On Jan. 13, 2008, Areva announced it has received government agreement to launch mining at the Imouraren deposit and to extend its exploration scope. With a planned investment of over 1 billion euros (approximately 650 billion FCFA), the Imouraren site will constitute the biggest industrial mining project ever under consideration in Niger, placing it at the second world rank with almost 5,000 tons of uranium produced annually.
Heavily-armed men attacked a camp of uranium prospectors in northern Niger early on Apr. 20, 2007, killing a security guard and wounding three other people, industry sources said. Some 20-30 men demanding a better deal for local Tuareg people raided the camp operated by the French nuclear energy group Areva housing around 250 people and made off with six vehicles and a large number of mobile phones. The raid took place at Imouraren, 85 kilometres south of the main uranium-producing centre of Arlit, the sources said. The gunmen said they belonged to a group called the Niger Movement for Justice, which emerged in February 2007. They called for the proper implementation of a 1995 accord which ended a Tuareg rebellion by promising the tribesmen priority in jobs with local mining companies. (AFP Apr. 20, 2007)
Areva may begin producing 4,000 tonnes of uranium a year starting in 2011 from a deposit located in Imouraren, said Mohamed Abdoulahi, Minister of Mines and Energy. The Imouraren deposit contains 146,000 tonnes, one of the world's biggest. Areva's project will cost as much as 500 million euros, said Oumarou Massalbi, director of mines at the ministry. (The Standard Mar. 8, 2007)
China uranium mining company causes unrest in Niger:
The sun-wizened Tuareg women of Azalik have declared war on China. Like their ancestors, they once eked out a living selling dried salts from an ancestral well. Everything changed last year, when the government leased their land to the China Nuclear International Uranium Corporation (Sino-U) for uranium exploration. Left with no livelihood and no compensation, a hundred women gathered to launch stones at mining machinery.
"Now it is eternal war," says Tinatina Salah, their 50-year-old leader, who still seeks compensation for the loss of her salt.
Tuareg rebels accuse deposed president Tandja's administration and mining companies of neglecting development in the north, which is a Tuareg stronghold.
Last month Nigerien workers – many of whom are Tuareg – denounced in a written statement conditions at SOMINA, claiming it resembled "a Chinese colony." Nigerien laborers sleep in dorms, separately from Chinese workers. The rooms are located in illegal proximity to open pit uranium mines, and the Nigeriens suffer chronic diarrhea on account of an unsanitary water supply, the document charged.
(Christian Science Monitor Mar. 29, 2010)
Sinohydro Corp. , China's leading hydraulic construction contractor announced it has secured a 140 million U.S. dollar uranium mine construction deal in Niger with China Nuclear International Uranium Corp. (SinoUranium).
The contract calls for building a uranium mine with annual output of 600,000 tons, a coal-fired power plant and a hydrometallurgy plant in the African country, Sinohydro said in a statement on its website.
The construction will last 900 days.
(People's Daily Online Apr. 8, 2008)
On Nov. 9, 2007, the government of Niger granted Société des Mines d'Azelik (SOMINA) a mining license for the Azelik uranium deposit. SOMINA was formed on June 5, 2007, by the state of Niger and its Chinese partners. On June 19, 2007, the company applied for a mining license for the Azelik uranium deposit. The application was accompanied by an environmental impact study which was approved in July 2007, and a technical-economical feasibility study. The license was granted, after the latter study had been modified, as requested by the authorities. (Tamtaminfo Nov. 9, 2007)
CNNC plans the first production from the Teguidda deposit for the beginning of 2010. (Trendfield, July 24, 2006)
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