Niger Grants Major Uranium Mining Permits to National Companies, Two Years After Taking Control From Foreign Operators

Niger has granted two major uranium mining permits to national companies, marking a significant milestone in the military-led government’s broader restructuring of the country’s uranium industry. The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers in Niamey on Friday, August 21, 2026, under the chairmanship of General Abdourahamane Tiani.

The first permit covers the In Azaoua uranium mining perimeter in the Arlit Commune of the Agadez Region and was awarded to Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA). TSUMCO was created by the Nigerien government following the nationalisation of Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR), which was previously controlled by French nuclear company Orano. The company was established to take over work on the area previously exploited by SOMAÏR while awaiting a formal large-scale mining permit. The new decree formalises TSUMCO’s right to continue uranium exploitation at the In Azaoua perimeter.

The second permit concerns the Madaouela I uranium project, also located in the Arlit area, which has been re-granted to Madaouela Mining Company (MAMICO). The Madaouela I permit had reverted to Niger’s public domain under a July 31, 2024 decree, following the withdrawal of the previous mining rights. MAMICO subsequently applied to have the permit re-granted under Niger’s current mining regulations.

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The re-grant comes with several obligations. MAMICO will pay an initial fixed royalty of $10 million to the Nigerien state and contribute to strengthening the capacity of officials within the Mines Administration. The company will also be required to support communities affected by the project and comply with Niger’s local-content rules. MAMICO has committed to creating approximately 1,000 jobs for young Nigeriens, while giving priority to local companies for the supply of goods and services throughout the project’s lifespan.

The latest move is part of a broader restructuring of Niger’s uranium industry that began in 2024, when the government started withdrawing foreign-held mining rights and returning strategic uranium assets to the state. The most significant shift came with the nationalisation of SOMAÏR, which had been controlled by French nuclear company Orano for decades. TSUMCO’s creation and the subsequent granting of the In Azaoua permit effectively transfer the operation of the former SOMAÏR perimeter to a Nigerien company. The Madaouela decision similarly brings a previously state-held uranium asset back into active development under a national company.

The moves highlight Niamey’s broader effort to increase state ownership, local participation and economic benefits from Niger’s uranium resources, while making national companies central to the sector’s future. The two permits represent another step in Niger’s restructuring of its uranium sector following its break with the foreign operators that had dominated the industry.

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