Niger coup: France's Orano confirms nuclear uranium supplies not at risk - EURACTIV

Niger coup: France’s Orano confirms nuclear uranium supplies not at risk - EURACTIV.com
By Théo Bourgery-Gonse | EURACTIV.com Est. 4min 01-08-2023 (updated: 01-08-2023 ) Content-Type: News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. “Our uranium imports are highly diversified, and Niger only represents 4% of global production”, a Foreign Affairs spokesperson told journalists on Monday. The Energy Transition ministry also confirmed there were no supply risks. [Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock] EURACTIV is part of the Trust Project >>> Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The general supply of uranium to France, a key raw material in nuclear fission, is not at risk, nuclear conglomerate Orano said, after Nigerien authorities announced they would freeze French exports. The coup, which has been unfolding in the past week, saw Niger army general Abdourahamane Tiani topple and hold captive the democratically-elected president Mohamed Bazoum on Wednesday (26 July). French President Emmanuel Macron, together with other political leaders, condemned the move, stating that “any attack against France and its interests will not be tolerated”. France has limited economic activity in Niger, apart from uranium extraction, a resource necessary for nuclear power. French nuclear conglomerate Orano exploits one of the uranium mines in the north, near the town of Arlit, hiring over 900 staff – most of whom are locals. France has one of the most advanced nuclear infrastructures in the EU, with almost 70% of its energy mix derived from nuclear. Swift and easy access to uranium, which France does not domestically produce, is critical. EU slams arrests of Niger ministers by putschists The junta that seized power in Niger last week detained senior politicians on Monday (31 July), their party said, defying international calls to restore democratic rule, while fellow military rulers in West Africa expressed their support. “No short-run risks” Following the coup, Nigerean authorities announced they would freeze uranium exports to France. “Our uranium imports are highly diversified, and Niger only represents 4% of global production,” a Foreign Affairs ministry spokesperson told journalists on Monday (31 July). The Energy Transition Ministry also confirmed there were no supply risks. “The current crisis carries no short-run risks on Orano’s supply capacities both in France and internationally”, an Orano spokesperson also told AFP. Supply is diversified enough, the company went on to say, with mines spread across four continents. Between 2005 and 2020, Niger was France’s third top uranium exporter, with 17.9% of total supplies (24,787 tons), according to Euratom data, a European public organisation. Kazakhstan is number one with 20.1% (27,748 tons) of all exports, and Australia stands second with 18.7% (25,804 tons). In 2022, Niger was the EU’s second-largest exporter of natural uranium, Euratom told AFP, standing at 25.38%. Up to 75% of all EU uranium supplies come from Kazakhstan, Niger and Canada. Kazakhstan is by far the world’s largest producer, with 43% of all word supply in 2022, according to the World Nuclear Association, a lobby group. The downward trend in Niger uranium exports in the past decade is both a result of regional instability, and “high production costs” relative to Central Asia counterparts, Teva Meyer, a geopolitical expert, told Libération. As such, the diversification of suppliers has been critical to France’s strategy, building stronger ties with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Australia. Niger coup final nail in France’s Sahel military strategy coffin, experts warn The Niger coup marks the end of a largely-failed French military ‘Barkhane’ operation in the Sahel, broadly due to a lack of resources, and an underlying sense of neocolonialism, according to experts EURACTIV spoke with. Long-term considerations The reassuring tone from across the board speaks to officials’ efforts to assuage fears and avoid further escalation of political instability. “China is very present in Niger, and would want to avoid any significant political destabilisation,” Raphaël Danino-Perraud, associate researcher at IFRI, a think-tank, told EURACTIV. China is seeking large amounts of uranium to support its wide-scale nuclear programme, described as “the largest and fastest […] in the world” by energy experts. While the past 10 years have seen uranium oversupply and low prices across the board, leaving producers with little appetite to invest and reach economies of scale, China’s expanding nuclear power could now start to increase global demand, and push prices up. Just a month ago, the government-owned China Nuclear International Uranium Corporation brokered a deal with the Nigerien government to restart uranium extraction from a mine in Azelik, in the centre of the country. A similar picture plays out for the US, which has made significant military investments in Niger in the past few years. Ultimately, “France can afford to hit hard” against the coup, Danino-Perraud said, and expect international support to call for de-escalation in Niger as quickly as possible. West African leaders meet over Niger coup, junta warns against intervention Niger’s military leaders warned against any armed intervention in the country as West African leaders are set to gather in Nigeria’s capital for an emergency summit to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order. Read more with EURACTIV Berlin hopeful Brussels will greenlight large-scale hydrogen subsidiesBerlin has been making “good progress” in its talks with the European Commission on the potential scope of national subsidies for hydrogen power plants, according to German Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck. Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Topics China Nuclear International Uranium Corporation Economy Energy Energy & Environment Niger Nuclear Orano Raphaël Danino-Perraud Trade uranium