Niger is among the world's biggest uranium producers

Kazakhstan, Canada and Namibia are the top three nations

 LONDON (Reuters) – Niger military officers said on Friday they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA).

The radioactive metal is the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy. It is also used in treating cancer, for naval propulsion, and in nuclear weapons.

Below are details of Niger's uranium deposits and mines:

PRODUCTION

Niger, which has Africa's highest-grade uranium ores, produced 2,020 metric tons of uranium in 2022, about 5 per cent of world mining output, according to the WNA. This was down from 2,991 tons in 2020.

The world's three biggest producers are Kazakhstan, Canada and Namibia.

Niger has one major mining operation in the north operated by France's state-owned Orano, another major mine which closed in 2021, with one under development.

Orano said on Friday it was continuing mining despite ongoing "security events". French nuclear power plants source less than 10pc of their uranium from Niger, Orano added.

ARLIT MINING SITES

Several open pit mining sites are located near the city of Arlit, in the northwest, and operated by Somair, a joint venture of Orano and Niger's state-owned Sopamin.

AKOUTA MINE

This underground mine near Akokan, southwest oif Arlit, produced 75,000 metric tons of uranium from 1978 until March 2021, when it closed after its ore reserves had been depleted.

The mine was owned by Cominak, 59pc owned by Orano, 31pc by Sopamin and 10pc by Spain's state-owned Enusa.

IMOURAREN

This deposit about 50 miles south of Arlit contains one of the largest reserves in the world, according to Orano.

An operating mine permit was awarded in 2009, but work to bring the mine into operation was suspended in 2014 until uranium prices improve.