Areva to operate Niger uranium mine

Exploration & Development

Publishing Date: 05 Jan 2009 3:25pm GMT
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French nuclear energy group Areva said it had been awarded a licence to operate the Imouraren mine in Niger which it called the most important uranium mine in Africa and the second in the world. Areva will have a 66.65% stake and Niger 33.35%.

The mine will take an initial investment of €1.2 billion (US$1.67 billion) and will have an annual production of 5,000t for a period of 35 years. It will employ 1,400 people and start priduction in 2010.

Areva will finance two-thirds of the amount.

It will make Niger the world's second-biggest uranium producer after Canada.

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Comments

I don't think Imouraren will make Niger the 2nd biggest uranium producer after Canada as by the time Imouraren comes on stream in 2010 at least two more uranium mines (AREVA's Trekkopje and Forsys' Valencia) are likely to be in operation in Namibia which coupled with expansion of the Langer Heinrich mine would boost Namibia's annual output of uranium to some 10,000 tonnes, above that of Niger (inc Imouraren). In addition planned p[roduction by Kazakhstan would probably continue to exceed both that of Niger and Namibia. Roger Murray: London,UK