Niger’s official channel “Tele Sahel” announced that China’s Azelik (Soumina) Mines Company will resume uranium mining in Niger after a 10-year hiatus due to “lack of profitability”.

“Soumina plans to resume uranium production, the situation is appropriate today,” the channel said, without specifying a date, referring to the remarkable rise in global prices for several months.

The price of a pound (453 grams) of uranium has risen to between $90 and $100 since the start of the year, up to five times more than in 2016, when it reached its lowest level.

This rise is due to a recovery in demand for nuclear energy and international geopolitical tensions.

Niger's mining minister, Ousmane Abarchi, visited the Azelik facilities on Saturday and stressed that "preventive measures against the risks of radioactive contamination will be taken".

In June 2023, the Government of Niger, and China National Uranium Corporation signed (CNUC)  a Memorandum of Understanding  to resume “Soumina's” activities.

Niger is the world's fourth-largest uranium producer, but it remains among the poorest countries on the planet, with the country struggling to exploit reserves.

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