Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, accompanied by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, visited Niger to negotiate access to the West African nation’s substantial Uranium deposits. The high-level delegation, which also included chief Ibrahim Kalin, seeks to utilize Niger’s Uranium reserves to support Turkey’s burgeoning nuclear-power industry, according to sources familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity due to confidentiality agreements.
Turkey’s Strategic Moves in Niger’s Uranium Sector
This visit follows Niger’s recent decision to withdraw mining rights from Canadian and French firms. The country’s military government, which has been in control since a July 2023 coup, removed Canadian GoviEx Uranium Inc.’s permit to develop the Madaouela Uranium mine, citing the company’s failure to meet project deadlines. Additionally, French nuclear giant Orano SA had its right to develop the Imarouren mine revoked last month.
Niger, under its current mining code, maintains that it has the authority to cancel mining licenses if project development conditions are not met. The Niger mining industry is navigating these changes amid growing interest in Uranium mining in Niger.
Geopolitical Implications of Niger’s Mining Rights Revocations
holding about 5% of the world’s Uranium resources, Niger is among the top 10 global suppliers which attracts a significant interest from international players. Russia’s state-owned Rosatom is currently constructing Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, with two additional facilities in plan. Turkey also has a long-term fuel-supply contract with Rosatom but lacks the capability to convert or enrich Uranium ore independently.
As reported by Bloomberg last month, the Turkish delegation’s visit aligns with Russia’s efforts to secure Niger’s Uranium assets and the engagement with Niger comes amid broader geopolitical maneuvers, as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan seeks to expand Turkey’s influence in Africa through various means, including energy projects, drone sales and media ventures.
Future Prospects for Uranium Mining in Niger
Erdogan has also supported Niger’s halt on Uranium exports to France, criticizing the European nation for its historical exploitation of Niger, which till 1960 was a French colony. The visit underscores the broader geopolitical tensions, including ongoing disputes between Ankara and Paris over issues such as energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, Libya’s civil war, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, and France’s stance on the 1915 Armenian genocide.
In summary, Turkey’s diplomatic mission to Niger highlights its strategic interest in securing Uranium resources while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics and historical grievances with France. The shifting landscape of Niger’s mining rights and the broader Niger mining industry are central to understanding the current and future developments in Uranium mining in Niger.
