Coup in Niger jeopardizes uranium supplies for nuclear power plants
Energy crisis looming in Europe: French nuclear group Orano particularly affected
Ibrahim Al-TarikMay 9, 2025
The recent military coup in Niger not only brings political instability to the West African country, but also casts a threatening spotlight on the European energy industry. Particularly affected is the French nuclear company Orano, which owns three huge uranium mines in Niger, including the second largest deposit in the world. According to satellite images, massive investments have been made in the mines in recent years. But the political situation now threatens supplies to Europe, as more than a quarter of the uranium imported into the EU comes from the African country.
The EU's nuclear agency, Euratom, confirms that in 2022 more than a quarter of the uranium imported into the EU came from Niger. Europe's nuclear power plants are in dire need of the fissile metal as fuel. France in particular has been heavily involved in Niger for decades. The French state-owned nuclear corporation Orano, formerly known as Areva, owns a majority stake in three massive mines in the country. While only one mine is currently producing uranium, satellite images from LiveEO indicate that massive investments have been made in the mines in recent years.
The military coup led to the announcement that all uranium exports to France would be halted. But the French government appeases by stressing that Niger accounts for only four percent of global uranium production and that supply chains are extremely diverse. But the situation remains critical because, although the EU nuclear industry has uranium stockpiled for another three years or so, it faces a serious supply crisis in the medium term. Europe's power supply also needs to become independent of Russian supplies, as Russia still accounted for 20 percent of uranium imports in 2021.
In particular, the planned Imouraren uranium mine in Niger could play an important role in Europe's uranium supply. The mine's ore body is considered the world's second-largest uranium deposit and was built quickly after 2010. However, the mine has been at a standstill for some time after the price of uranium plummeted in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Political uncertainty under the military junta now raises questions about whether the mine will ever come online.
In addition to France, Canada and Kazakhstan are also showing interest in replacing uranium supplies from Niger. Kazakhstan is already considered the world's top uranium producer and has replaced Niger as the EU's largest supplier. Orano has owned a uranium mine in Kazakhstan since the 1990s, which has been significantly expanded in recent years. Political instability in Niger could lead to other countries stepping into the breach to secure Europe's uranium supply.
However, the situation in Niger is not only problematic from an economic perspective. Concerns about environmental impact and radioactive contamination remain. After Orano closed the Cominak mine in 2021, some 20 million tons of tailings were left on land, raising health concerns among the local population. Although Orano asserts that it buries the waste and that radioactive contamination is low, critics doubt this account and warn of possible impacts on water supplies.
