Information Papers

Uranium in Niger and Gabon

(September 2008)

Niger

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.

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. 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. 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.

In 2006 Areva NC signed an agreement to develop the large Imouraren deposit about 80 km south of Arlit, while launching a new drilling program on site.  Production at more than 4000 tU/yr using in situ leaching (ISL) is expected from 2011.  Areva says it is investing some US$ 1.47 billion in developing the deposit, making it 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 Imouraren joint venture agreement was signed in 1974 but development stalled on economic grounds.  The development was confirmed in January 2008, after Areva agreed to increase royalty payments to the government of Niger by 50%.  Areva now appears to have about 70% of the project, with the Niger government holding the balance, but as of April 2008 the precise split was not determined.  Areva expects 3500 tU/yr from production total of about 5000 tU/yr.

In July 2006 the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) agreed to develop the 12,790 tU Abokorum deposit in the Agadez region. CNNC, now through its subsidiary China Nuclear International Uranium Corporation (SinoU) also holds rights to the 6190 tU Madaouela deposit in the Arlit region and to the Azelik deposit, southwest of Imouraren where it is now developing the Teguida mine to come into production in 2010-11 at 700 tU/yr.  Teguida 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 and 5% Trendfield Holdings Ltd.

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 of 27,300 CFA francs (US$ 57) per kg, and in 2007 this was increased to 40,0000 CFA (US$ 83) plus 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.

Gabon

The Mounana uranium deposits in southeastern Gabon were discovered in 1956 by French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) geologists and were mined from 1960 to 1999, producing nearly 28,000 tonnes of uranium. The best known of these deposits is Oklo, discovered in 1968, which produced over 14,000 tU. (Oklo is famous for its fossil nuclear reactors, which operated naturally in the wet sandstone orebody about two billion years ago.)

The Franceville Uranium Mines Company (COMUF) was formed in 1958 and undertook the mining and processing. It was 68.42% owned by Cogema and 25.8% by the national government.

The ore was mined largely in open cut operation but also underground, from five discrete orebodies with average ore grade of 0.37%. Milling was at Mounana. Production fluctuated from 400 to 1250 tU/yr, with a total of 12,147 tU coming from open pit mining and 15,725 tU from underground mining. Operations were shut down in mid 1999 due to a lack of economically recoverable reserves - Reasonably Assured Resources (RAR) of 4830 tU @ under US$ 130/kg is quoted. The facilities were dismantled and the site is in the final phase of rehabilitation.

Extraction of the ore began at the Mounana open pit mine (1960-75), followed by the mine at Oklo (1970-85). Ore was also extracted from underground mines, first at Mounana, then at Oklo (1977-97), and at Boyindzi (1980-91). During the last two years, the open pit at Mikouloungou, 60 km away, was mined (1997-99).

Up to 1975 some two million tonnes of tailings were released into the local Ngamaboungou creek and Mitembe-Likedi River system, along with mill effluent. Then four million tonnes were emplaced in the Mounana pit. In 1990 a tailings dam was built across the Ngamaboungou creek for the balance.

In 1985 COMUF started works to stabilize the course of the Ngamaboungou creek with rock, and to cover the tailings deposits formed in the valley along the creek with a layer of 30 - 50 cm compacted laterite. The tailings deposit in the former Mounana open pit was covered with a cover of broken rock and laterite soil. Contaminated areas at the processing site were covered with a layer of 0.7 metres minimum of lateritic soil. The rehabilitation work was completed in July 2004, at a total cost of EUR 10.7 million including EUR 7 million from EU funds.

Non-proliferation

Both Niger and Gabon are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Niger has a comprehensive safeguards agreement in force and in 2004 signed the Additional Protocol. Gabon signed a safeguards agreement in 1979 but does not have a comprehensive safeguards treaty in force.

Main References:
Areva NC.
OECD NEA & IAEA, 2006, Uranium 2005: Resources, Production and Demand.
WISE.