Controversies
Orano continues to conduct business in Russia despite international sanctions and widespread criticism following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company has faced backlash for its decision to maintain its presence in the Russian market, as critics argue that such operations indirectly support the Russian economy.[13]
Orano faced controversies related to its uranium mining operations in Niger, including environmental issues and the impact on local communities. Geopolitical tensions have also raised concerns about the security and control of uranium resources in the region. Reports have emerged indicating that Orano is at risk of losing its Niger uranium mine to interests associated with Russia, heightening worries about the company's operations and involvement in international affairs.[14]
In December 2024, the French state‑owned nuclear company Orano announced that the junta had taken operational control of its subsidiary Somaïr. Efforts to resume exports had already been blocked for months, pushing Somaïr into financial crisis. The disruption forced France and the European Union to seek alternative suppliers, and EU uranium imports from Russia also rose significantly, complicating efforts to reduce dependence on Moscow during the war in Ukraine.[15]
The junta’s stance reflected both nationalist sentiment, long critical of France’s dominant role in Niger’s uranium sector, and political retaliation against Paris, which condemned the coup and supported the West African bloc ECOWAS in its pressure campaign. In June 2024, Niger cancelled Orano’s rights to develop the large Imouraren deposit, further undermining French interests.[15]
Niger was considering exporting yellowcake to Iran and contacts between the two governments have deepened, with Niger's Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine visiting Tehran in Jan 2024.[16][15]
As consequence the Somaïr mine got into a financial crisis, threatening hundreds of jobs in the northern town of Arlit. Communities in the desert region, long dependent on uranium mining, face severe economic hardship as stockpiled uranium worth over $200 million remains unsold. The cancellation of Orano’s rights to develop the Imouraren deposit has further undermined prospects for future growth in the sector.[15]
On 23 September 2024 the ICSID ordered Niger to halt the sale or transfer of uranium mined before the suspension of operations at the Somaïr site in case Orano Mining SAS versus Republic of Niger No. ARB/25/8, following a complaint by the French state‑owned nuclear company Orano. The ruling came after Niger’s military government expropriated Orano’s 63.4% stake in the mine, part of a broader regional trend in which military‑led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have asserted greater control over natural resources.[17][18][19][20][21]
