French nuclear fuels company Orano has announced legal proceedings against the Republic of Niger following the detention of the director of Orano Mining Niger and the seizure of company property.
The incident occurred during a raid by Nigerien security services on the offices of Orano subsidiaries SOMAÏR, COMINAK, IMOURAREN and Orano Mining in Niamey on 5 May.
During the raid, electronic devices and cell phones were confiscated, and managing directors were interrogated.
The director of Orano Mining Niger was taken to the headquarters of the Nigerien General Directorate of External Documentation and Surveillance (Direction Générale de la Documentation et de la Sécurité Extérieure), and communication with him has since been impossible.
The police are also preventing Orano from accessing its subsidiary offices at Niamey.
Orano said in a statement: “Orano deplores this intervention, for which no legal basis nor reason has been offered, and has therefore decided to file a suit with the courts of the Republic of Niger for arbitrary arrest, illegal detention and unjust confiscation of the property of Nigerien companies, subsidiaries of Orano and the State of Niger itself.
“The Group once again expresses its deep concern at this situation and is doing everything it can to support its arrested colleague and the teams affected. Orano’s top priority remains the security of all of its staff.”
Previously, in December, Orano reported losing control over its Nigerien subsidiaries and initiated international arbitration against the State of Niger.
Over the past year, Niger, along with neighbouring countries Mali and Burkina Faso, has intensified pressure on foreign mining companies by seizing assets and revoking permits as it seeks to assert greater control over its natural resources, reported Reuters.
Malian authorities have detained foreign executives and confiscated gold reserves during negotiations with mining companies in recent months. Last month, Burkina Faso’s junta pledged to assume control of additional foreign-owned industrial mines.
In a separate development, Orano has solidified a partnership with Uzbekistan’s Navoiyuran for the South Djengeldi uranium mining project.
The joint venture, Nurlikum Mining, will integrate the project into Navoiyuran’s operational framework, with Navoiyuran as the project operator.
