Niger Grants Major Uranium Mining Permits to National Companies Two Years After Taking Control From Foreign Operators
Niger has taken another major step toward reshaping its uranium industry, granting two significant mining permits to national companies as the military-led government continues its drive to place the country’s strategic mineral resources under greater domestic control.
The latest decision, approved by the Council of Ministers in Niamey on Friday, August 21, 2026, under the chairmanship of General Abdourahamane Tiani, marks another milestone in Niger’s ongoing restructuring of its uranium sector.
The move comes roughly two years after the government began withdrawing mining rights from foreign operators and bringing key uranium assets back under state and national control.
Two Major Uranium Permits Granted to Nigerien Companies
The first permit covers the In Azaoua uranium mining perimeter in the Arlit Commune of the Agadez Region. The mining rights have been granted to Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company, known as TSUMCO SA.
TSUMCO was established by the Nigerien government following the nationalisation of Société des Mines de l’Aïr, or SOMAÏR, which previously operated the uranium perimeter.
According to the Council of Ministers, TSUMCO was created to take over activities in the area formerly exploited by SOMAÏR while the government worked toward formalising a large-scale mining permit.
The latest decree now gives TSUMCO the legal authority to continue uranium exploitation at the In Azaoua perimeter, effectively placing the operation under a Nigerien company.
The second permit concerns the Madaouela I uranium project, also located in the Arlit area. The project has been re-granted to Madaouela Mining Company, or MAMICO.
The Madaouela I permit had returned to Niger’s public domain following a July 31, 2024 decree that withdrew the previous mining rights. MAMICO later applied for the permit to be re-granted under Niger’s current mining regulations.
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$10 Million Royalty and Thousands of Potential Jobs
The new Madaouela I permit comes with a number of obligations designed to ensure that the project generates greater economic and social benefits for Niger. MAMICO will pay an initial fixed royalty of $10 million to the Nigerien state and contribute to strengthening the capacity of officials within the country’s Mines Administration.
The company is also required to support communities affected by the project and comply with Niger’s local-content requirements. One of the most significant commitments is the creation of approximately 1,000 jobs for young Nigeriens. MAMICO has also pledged to give priority to local companies when sourcing goods and services throughout the lifespan of the project.
These conditions reflect the government’s broader push to ensure that mining activities create more opportunities for Nigerien workers, businesses and communities rather than allowing the economic benefits of the country’s mineral wealth to flow primarily to foreign operators.
A Major Shift in Niger’s Uranium Industry
Niger is one of the world’s historically important uranium-producing countries, and uranium has long played a significant role in the country’s mining sector.
For decades, major parts of Niger’s uranium industry were operated with significant involvement from foreign companies. However, relations between the military-led government and some foreign mining operators deteriorated following the 2023 coup and the subsequent restructuring of the country’s mining industry. One of the most consequential developments was the nationalisation of SOMAÏR, which had previously been controlled by French nuclear company Orano.
The creation of TSUMCO and the granting of the In Azaoua permit now represent a further step in transferring the former SOMAÏR operating perimeter into Nigerien hands. Similarly, the re-granting of the Madaouela I permit to MAMICO signals Niger’s intention to place national companies at the centre of future uranium development.
Niger Seeks Greater Control Over Its Mineral Wealth
The two decisions form part of a wider strategy by Niamey to increase state participation, strengthen local businesses and ensure that the country’s natural resources deliver greater benefits to its population. Rather than simply relying on foreign companies to develop and operate major mining projects, the government is increasingly promoting Nigerien-owned entities and imposing conditions aimed at increasing local employment, domestic procurement and state revenues.
The latest permits therefore go beyond the granting of mining rights. They represent another chapter in Niger’s attempt to redefine how its uranium resources are controlled, developed and monetised. For the government, the objective is clear: greater national ownership, stronger local participation and a larger share of the economic value generated from Niger’s uranium wealth.
With TSUMCO taking forward the In Azaoua perimeter and MAMICO returning Madaouela I to active development, Niger’s uranium sector is entering a new phase, one in which national companies are expected to play a much more central role in determining the future of one of the country’s most strategic natural resources.
