The government of Niger has decided to withdraw the license for the exploitation of the Imuraren uranium deposit in favor of the French state company Orano. This deposit, located in the northern part of the country, is considered one of the largest in the world, with estimated reserves of up to 200,000 tons of uranium.
This was reported by the French Radio France Internationale.
Niger is the seventh largest producer of uranium in the world. Experts estimate that only the Imuraren deposit contains 200,000 tons of metal.
Orano has mined uranium for France's nuclear industry in Niger since 1971. But Niger's new government, which came to power last year, opposed France and ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the country.
France is rapidly losing influence in Africa, even over its former colonies.
