A Concession That Outlived Generations
The Arlit concession dates back to a decree issued in January 1968 to France’s Atomic Energy Commission.Uranium mining at Arlit subsequently became central to Niger’s relationship with the French nuclear sector, with SOMAIR beginning production in 1971.
For Niger, however, the arrangement increasingly became part of a wider debate over whether the country was receiving enough from its own mineral wealth.The dispute intensified after the 2023 military takeover, as the authorities in Niamey began pushing for greater control over mining operations and a larger share of the economic benefits.
The government’s in 2026 decision specifically cited the non-payment of a surface royalty on part of the Arlit concession.According to Nigerien authorities, a payment notice was issued in April 2025, followed by a formal demand in September.After the required six-month period, the government said it had grounds to cancel the concession.
The Battle for SOMAÏR
The confrontation had already escalated before the Arlit concession was cancelled.In December 2024, Orano confirmed that Nigerien authorities had taken operational control of SOMAÏR, the company operating the Arlit mine. Orano held 63.4% of the venture, while Niger’s state mining company held the remaining 36.6%.
In June 2025, Niger went further, announcing the nationalisation of SOMAÏR and transferring its shares and assets to the state.The government presented the move as necessary to ensure that Nigeriens could benefit more fully from the country’s mineral resources.
What Remains Beneath the Surface
The dispute is not only about ownership and money.It has also brought renewed attention to the environmental legacy of uranium mining around Arlit.
Environmental researchers have reported concerns over radioactive mining waste and pressure on local water resources after decades of uranium extraction.A 2025 CRIIRAD study said mining activities had affected both the quality and availability of water around Arlit, while Nigerien authorities have accused previous operators of leaving a significant environmental legacy.
These allegations remain contested, but they have become an important part of Niger’s argument for changing how its uranium industry is managed.
A Different Direction
The dispute is now moving beyond the mine itself and into international courts.Orano has pursued arbitration against Niger, while an ICSID tribunal ruled in September 2025 that Niger should not sell or transfer uranium produced by SOMAÏR that was the subject of the dispute.
Yet Niger continues to insist on greater control over its uranium and its future customers. The government’s creation of the state-owned Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company further signals its intention to build a mining sector managed more directly from Niamey.
What began as a dispute over a mining concession has therefore become something much larger: a test of whether resource-rich African states can rewrite long-standing arrangements and exercise greater control over the wealth beneath their soil.
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