Niger withdraws Orano's licence to operate a uranium mine

The government of Niger has withdrawn Orano's licence to operate a major uranium mine at Imouraren in the north of the country. Imouraren is one of the world's largest uranium deposits, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tonnes. Orano has invested around €1 billion in preparatory work on the site since the mid-2000s. The company operates another uranium mine in the Arlit region. Orano has a diversified portfolio (Canada, Kazakhstan) and has stated that it is not concerned about its supplies. Niger accounts for 4.7% of the world's uranium production.