Uranium in Niger
(December 2009)
- Niger has two significant uranium mines providing 7.5% of world mining output from Africa's highest-grade uranium ores.
- Niger's first commercial uranium mine began operating in 1971.
- There is strong government support for expanding uranium mining.
Uranium was discovered at Azelik in Niger in 1957 by the French Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minières (BRGM), looking for copper. The French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) initiated further studies. Further discoveries in sandstone followed including at Abokurum (1959), Madaouela (1963), Arlette, Ariege, Artois & Tassa/Taza (1965), Imouraren (1966) and Akouta (1967). In the midst of this, Niger became independent of France in 1960.
In 1964 the coal deposit of Thirozerine was also discovered. It is currently operated by SONICHAR and produces electricity for the northern Agadez region, including the uranium mines.
Historically, uranium mining in Gabon has been closely linked with Niger due to the role of the French Atomic Energy Commission and Cogema (now Areva NC).
Uranium mining today
Niger is the world's third to fifth-ranking producer of uranium. In 2005 it produced 3434 tU, and cumulative production from the country passed 100,000 tU in November 2006. About 56,000 tU of this has been from underground and 44,000 t from open pit.
Uranium is mined close to the twin mining towns of Arlit and Akokan, 900 km north-east of the capital Niamey (more than 1,200 km by road) on the southern border of the Sahara desert and on the western range of the Air mountains. The concentrates are exported for conversion, mostly to Comurhex in France.
The Société des Mines de l'Air (SOMAIR) ) was formed in 1968 and started production from the Arlette deposit in 1971, by open cut mining of 0.30 - 0.35% ore down to 60 metres depth. Capacity was subsequently expanded to about 2100 tU/yr in 1981 (though half was then laid up). Since 2003, production is ramping up again, with the Tamou deposit producing 1565 tU in 2006. In 2008 overall production was 1743 tU. Somair has produced more than 44,000 tU. It has started groundworks for a new 1.4 Mt per year heap-leach operation while planning for the next deposit, Artois, deeper (90 metres) and at a lower grade (0.20 - 0.25%). Mine operations are certified under ISO 14001 for environmental management.
The Compagnie Miniere d'Akouta (COMINAK) was set up in 1974 and started production from the Akouta deposit, close to Akokan. This is an underground operation at a depth of about 250 metres. Mill capacity is about 2300 tU/yr. Cominak has produced more than 55,000 tU, and 2006 production was 1870 tU from 0.45 - 0.55% ore. In 2008 production was 1289 tU. Cominak has been engaged in a process to improve its competitiveness so that it can continue to rank among the world's top producers. Production is currently switching to the new deposit of Ebba/Afasto. Mine operations are certified under ISO 14001 for environmental management.
SOMAIR is 63.4% owned by Areva NC and 36.6% by Office National des Ressources Minieres du Niger (ONAREM). COMINAK is 34% owned by Areva NC, 31% by ONAREM, 25% by Japan's Overseas Uranium Resources Development Co. (OURD) and 10% by Enusa SA, Spain.
In 2004 Cogema Niger (now Areva NC) and the Niger government signed an agreement to undertake major exploration in the area.
At the end of 2005 Niger's Reasonably Assured Resources (RAR) were 173,000 tU at less than US$ 40/kg, and a further 7000 tU at up to 80/kg. Inferred Resources are 45,000 tU at up to $80/kg. All are in sandstone.
Development of the large Imouraren deposit about 80 km south of Arlit was confirmed in January 2008, after Areva agreed to increase royalty payments to the government by 50%, following a 2006 agreement. In January 2009 Areva announced that it had been awarded a mining licence and that it would hold 66.65% of the project, with the Niger government holding the balance in a joint venture: Imouraren SA. In December 2009 Korea Electric Power Co agreed to take a 10% interest in the operating company from Areva, and 10% of the product, for a single payment of EUR 170 million. The project will be a EUR 1.2 billion investment, and Areva will also spend EUR 6 million per year on health, education, training, transport and access to water and energy for local people. Production is expected to be 5000 tU/yr for 35 years from 2013. It will be the largest mining project ever undertaken in Niger. The deposit covers 8 km by 2.5 km and contains 146,000 tonnes of measured and indicated uranium resources at 0.11% U. Average depth is 110 m and maximum thickness 60 m. An earlier Imouraren joint venture agreement was signed in 1974 but development stalled on economic grounds.
In July 2006 the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) agreed to develop the 12,790 tU Abokorum deposit in the Agadez region, through its subsidiary China Nuclear International Uranium Corporation (SinoU).
The Azelik deposits with major SinoU equity are in the Agadez region apparently southwest of Imouraren, where the Teguidda mine is now being developed to come into production in 2010 at 700 tU/yr. Teguidda is reported to have resources of 13,000 tU at 0.2%. The Azelik project is owned by Societe des Mines d'Azelik SA (SOMINA), a joint venture established in 2007 with equity 37.2% SinoU, 33% Niger government, 24.8% ZXJOY Invest (Chinese) and 5% Trendfield Holdings Ltd. Parent company Trendfield Energy and Resources is a China-based “private international mining and consulting firm”.
SinoU and China’s ZTE Energy Corporation have also established a joint venture to carry out uranium exploration near the Azelik mine. ZTE is quoted as jointly developing the Azelik uranium mine with SinoU.
The Madaouela deposit is close to the Arlette and Akouta mines in the Arlit region of the Air Massif. Trendfield (25%) and Govi High Power Exploration Inc (GoviEx) Uranium formed the GoviEx Niger JV in 2007 to explore the Madaouela (6190 tU) and Arnou Melle deposits, but Trendfield then exchanged this equity for a 10% share of GoviEx. SinoU is understood to hold some equity in the project. In August 2008 Cameco bought an 11% share in the company for US$ 28 million, with options to increase that share to 48%. It is moving to establish NI 43-101 compliant resource data.
Trendfield formed the UREX joint venture (approx 50:50) with Australia’s Artemis Resources to explore the Tagaza deposits adjacent to Teguidda. In 2009 it agreed to sell its 5% of the Teguidda deposit to Korea Resources.
In April 2007 the government issued uranium exploration permits to Areva, Rio Tinto and others for the Tchirozerine area, northwest of Agadez. An Indian company took out an exploration licence in the Arlit region.
Niger Uranium Reserves and Resources
| End 2005 |
Reserves |
Resources |
| |
proven |
probable |
measured |
indicated |
inferred |
| Arlit/Arlette |
16,716 tU @ 0.3% |
|
|
6397 tU @ 0.16% |
10,115 tU @ 0.3% |
| Akouta |
7909 tU @ 0.46% |
15,737 tU @ 0.43% |
2544 tU @ 0.33% |
5725 tU @ 0.31% |
18,718 tU @ 0.25% |
| Imouraren |
|
|
146,000 tU @ 0.11% |
|
In April 2007 the government said that it aimed for uranium production of 10,500 tU/yr "in the next few years", and named Areva as its strategic partner in uranium development.
Areva is reported to have been paying royalty on the basis of a product valuation of 27,300 CFA francs (US$ 57) per kilogram, and in 2007 this was increased to 40,000 CFA (US$ 83/kg), plus the provision of 300 tonnes of product for Niger to sell on the open market. This was then sold to Exelon in USA for $42 million.
In August 2008 Niger Uranium Ltd announced an inferred resource of 1700 tU at In Gall, this being Samrec-compliant and in shallow sandstone.
In November 2009 Global Atomic Fuels announced a 2000 tU indicated resource and 21,000 tU inferred resource at its Tin Negouran and Adrar Emoles concessions, with ISL potential.
In 2009 Korea Resources Corp. agreed to buy 400 tonnes per year of uranium or U3O8 and take a 5% share of the Teguidda mine in central Niger from Trendfield, a Chinese company.
Non-proliferation
Niger is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It has a comprehensive safeguards agreement in force and in 2004 signed the Additional Protocol.
Main References:
Areva NC.
OECD NEA & IAEA, 2006, Uranium 2005: Resources, Production and Demand.
WISE.
參考來源:World Nuclear Association
