Niger's cabinet has granted a uranium mining permit for the In Azaoua area near Arlit to Tsumco SA, a state company created after Niger nationalised Orano's Somaïr mine, formalising its control of ground once run by the French group.
Niger's military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani said about 95,000 tonnes of concentrated uranium powder is ready to be returned to Orano, while insisting uranium produced since the Somaïr nationalisation belongs to Niger.
An ICSID arbitration tribunal has ordered Niger not to sell or transfer uranium produced at the nationalised Somaïr mine, siding with French group Orano in a dispute over roughly 1,500 tonnes of yellowcake.
Niger's military government has announced the nationalisation of the Somaïr uranium mine run by France's Orano, accusing the firm of taking an outsized share of production since 1971.
