The Conversation (0)
May. 29, 2014 04:15AM PST
After two years of trying to reach a deal, Areva and Niger have finally agreed to terms for uranium extraction in the African country.
Areva has agreed to operate under Niger’s 2006 mining code, which includes a reduction in tax breaks as well as a rise in royalty rates. Furthermore, Areva has agreed to pay 90 million euros ($122 million) to construct a road from Tahoua to Arlit, as well as an additional $17 million euros ($23.1 million) for local development. The miner will also build Niger new headquarters for Somair and Cominak. Finally, Areva and the state of Niger have agreed to appoint managing directors of Nigerien nationality to the boards of both Somair and Cominak.
“We have been partners with Niger for over 40 years and we have a long-term relationship, above all as an investor. We want to make sure that these mining operations are the best in the world and guarantee a certain longevity in a very difficult market. This is the context of these negotiations,” Areva’s mining boss, Olivier Wantz, told RFI.
Niger and Areva have been locked in talks for two years and were unable to reach a deal before the 10-year producing agreement expired on December 31, 2013, requiring a temporary extension. Areva’s CEO, Luc Oursel, explained that the new deal “affirm[s] the major place held by Niger in the global uranium industry.”
Uranium in Niger
Niger is the third-largest uranium producer in the world and has a stake — alongside Areva — in the Somair and Cominak mines, both of which shut down at the end of 2013 at the expiry of the license. Together, both mines produce over 4,000 tonnes of uranium per year.
Areva also holds the Imouraren project in Niger, which according to Reuters could more than double Niger’s uranium output to somewhere in the area of 9,000 tonnes. However, despite President Issoufou’s interest in starting the mine prior to seeking re-election, the current depressed uranium market indicates that doing so would not be profitable.
“We’re going to follow the evolution of the market with the objective of restarting Imouraren by Jan. 1, 2017 at the latest, as soon as the world price allows it,” Mines Minister Omar Hamidou Tchiana later said.
Oursel is also in accordance, and has said that “[i]n the current context, neither Areva nor Niger are interested in dumping uranium on the market that would not find a buyer.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Vivien Diniz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Featured Energy Investing Stocks
Investor Insight
Generation Uranium offers investors high-leverage exposure to a potential major discovery in Canada’s underexplored and resource-rich Thelon Basin, led by a management team with a proven track record of securing high-value exits.
Overview
Generation Uranium (CSE:GEN, OTCQB:GENR, FRA:W85) is a Canadian exploration company focused on wealth creation through discovery within the uranium sector. The company’s primary strategy is to build a high-caliber exploration team that can rapidly test and drill high-potential targets, de-risking projects for potential takeover by larger producers. Currently centered in the prolific Thelon and Angikuni Basins of Nunavut, the company is also actively evaluating additional project acquisitions in the Athabasca Basin to expand its portfolio.
The company is led by a veteran management team with nearly 30 years of experience in mineral development. CEO Michael Collins has a significant track record of building and exiting public companies, including the co-founding of Bluerock Resources, a conventional uranium producer during the 2000-2008 cycle. This expertise is paired with a focused business model that leverages modern geophysical targeting to accelerate exploration timelines and reduce costs, ensuring the company can deliver results quickly in a bullish uranium market.
Company Highlights
- Strategic Location in a Premier Uranium District: The flagship Yath Project is located in Nunavut’s Thelon Basin, contiguous to ATHA Energy’s Angilak Project, which hosts the high-grade Lac 50 deposit.
- High-Grade Discovery Potential: Historical surface sampling at the Yath Project has yielded exceptional uranium grades, including boulders testing at 9.81 percent, 3.95 percent, and 2.14 percent U3O8.
- Expert Management with Exit Experience: Led by CEO Michael Collins, the team has decades of experience in mineral exploration and a history of co-founding companies that were later acquired, such as Prime Mining and Nuclear Fuels.
- Low-Cost, Rapid Exploration Strategy: By leveraging modern geophysics and extensive historical data, the company aims for a "short road to discovery," de-risking projects quickly to maximize shareholder value.
- Bullish Market Fundamentals: Generation Uranium is well-positioned to meet the growing global demand for carbon-free nuclear power, supported by a projected supply deficit and increased interest from major tech companies seeking clean energy.
Key Project
Yath Project - Nunavut, Canada
The Yath Project is Generation Uranium’s flagship project. This 100 percent owned property covers about 120 square kilometers within the underexplored Thelon Basin in Nunavut, Canada. The project is located where the Yathkyed and Angikuni sub-basins meet, which is a region known globally for high-grade uranium potential. It sits directly along the same trend as the Angilak Project owned by ATHA Energy (TSXV:SASK, OTCQB:SASFK, FWB:XSU.F), which contains the Lac 50 deposit, one of the highest-grade uranium resources found outside of the Athabasca Basin with a historical mineral resource estimate of 43.3M lbs at an average grade of 0.69 percent U3O8.
The Yath Project is contiguous to the Lac 50 trend and is crossed by several regional faults and basin boundaries. Past exploration work has already identified high priority targets, while surface sampling in the area has produced uranium grades from boulders, with some testing at 9.81 percent, 3.95 percent, and 2.14 percent U3O8.
The company has commenced its initial field program at the site, set to define and rank drill targets. Historic showings will be combined with new anomalies from the MMT geophysics survey, preparing the project for an anticipated drill permit.
Management Team
Michael Collins - CEO & Director
Michael Collins is a professional geoscientist with nearly 30 years of experience in mineral exploration. He has co-founded several public companies, including Exploits Discovery, Prime Mining (acquired in 2025), and Nuclear Fuels (merged with Premier American Uranium in 2025). He is also currently a director of First Atlantic Nickel.
Christoph Bruening - Director
Christoph Bruening is the founder and managing partner of Value Relations GmbH, a full-service investor relations and public relations agency in Frankfurt with over 25 years of excellence, focusing on mining, exploration, biotech and health care. In addition, he has listed over 600 companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is a speaker and author of several publications, including on rare earths and uranium.
Dallas Miller - Director
Dallas Miller has been working within the international mining industry for over 15 years, working with BHP and Santos Ltd. He has experience on the ground from an operational standpoint, as well as being an integral part of raising millions of dollars in capital funding for both private and public companies in recent years.
Roger Leschuk - VP Corporate Development
Roger Leschuk has been in corporate management for over two decades, with the past 15 years dedicated to corporate development and investor relations. He has experience participating in and assisting with mergers and acquisitions, and was an investment advisor for various services such as stocks, mutual funds and tax-sheltered investments. He is a Chartered Investment Manager and a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute.
Monty Sutton - CFO
Monty Sutton brings over 35 years of experience in public markets and corporate governance. He previously served as CFO for Nuclear Fuels from its IPO through its acquisition.
