Gaborone, Botswana — Following the loss of access to its SOMAIR mine in Niger, French nuclear group Orano has embarked on a discreet diplomatic initiative to explore Botswana’s uranium potential. This move is part of a strategy to diversify its African portfolio. Senior Orano executives, Xavier Saint Martin Tillet and Pierre Fourrier, were among a delegation that met with Botswana’s President Duma Boko during his April visit to Paris. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of engagements by the MEDEF business federation, underscores France’s growing interest in Botswana’s uranium resources.
Botswana, which is seeking to diversify its mining sector beyond diamonds, is believed to hold substantial uranium reserves, estimated at around 800,000 tonnes. This includes the Letlhakane deposit, one of the world’s largest undeveloped uranium resources. Although plans for Botswana’s first uranium mine have been discussed since 2009, progress has been slow. More recently, however, the country has intensified efforts to position itself as a potential uranium producer, including seeking nuclear-sector investments and engaging with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.
French nuclear fuel company Orano has reportedly secured approval for uranium exploration licenses covering approximately 15,000 square kilometers in the Ghanzi district of western Botswana. This development indicates a growing interest in the country’s resource potential as Europe seeks to secure nuclear fuel. The renewed focus on Botswana comes after a breakdown in relations with Niger following the 2023 military coup, which led to the nationalization of the SOMAIR mine by Niger’s military government.
The military junta in Niamey revoked cooperation agreements with France and nationalized the SOMAIR mine, citing “irresponsible, illegal, and unfair behavior “by Orano. The government also accused the French state-owned company of enriching France while bringing “misery, pollution, rebellion, corruption, and desolation “to Niger. According to Reuters, tensions escalated after a shipment of uranium concentrate left the Arlit mining site without Orano’s involvement.
As France seeks to strengthen nuclear fuel partnerships and expand its Western supply chain, President Emmanuel Macron has called for increased uranium exports from Kazakhstan, the world’s largest uranium producer. Orano is also part of a $2. 7 billion U.
S. Department of Energy program to boost uranium enrichment capacity, which includes a $900 million award to Orano Federal Services to finance a new facility in Tennessee.
Source: Africa.businessinsider
Original author: Olamilekan Okebiorun
