“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]
The general supply of uranium to France, a key raw material in nuclear fission, is not at risk, nuclear conglomerate Orano said, after Nigerean 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.
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.
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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 Nigerian 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.
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