Niger to get the world’s 2nd largest uranium mine
Tuesday 5 May 2009
by Konye Obaji Ori, Patrick K.
According to estimates, Niger will become home to the world’s second largest uranium mine by 2012.
But will the mines profit Nigeriens?
The $1.5bn mine is expected to yield 5,000 tonnes of uranium per year once it opens in three years’ time.
Areva, French nuclear energy giant formerly known as Cogema, is building the mine and will take a majority share in it. France has kept close ties with its former colony for its uranium; a relationship which is vital to France’s nuclear energy program.
Areva’s uranium mines have helped in shaping France’s place as the world’s fourth uranium producer and the first producer of nuclear power which represents 80% of its electric power.
In 2007, anti-Areva protests rocked the country as thousands of Nigeriens marched on the streets against the presence of the French company, following a nearly 40 year Areva operation in Niger that had yielded little development in the lives of the local people and the country.
Niger is one of the world’s poorest countries and the export of uranium provides one of its few sources of foreign currency. Other than uranium mining, Niger’s population relies on subsistence farming and livestock production.
The country suffered a severe famine between 2005 and 2006 in a backdrop of highly productive uranium mines. Little development has been seen in the last 50 years.
Activists from the local branch of the Greenpeace lobby group claim that the potential pollution from the Uranium mines will bring about the forced displacement of the local people. The open pit mine would employ 1,400 people and more than double Niger’s current uranium exports.
The price of Uranium in the world market is determined by the heavy consumers amidst other factors.
France as a heavy consumer has great influence of the products price on the world stage.
However, the fluctuating price in uranium created by the big consumers in a profit maximization system, has brought repeated instability to Niger’s economy as the world’s fourth biggest producer of uranium.
According to the French journal Le Canard enchainé (03/08/2005), with profits from its mines running to the tune of "428 million annually", Areva’s aid to Niger’s starved population in 2005 "only amounted to 0.05% of its annual profits".
The question is, will the Nigerien people benefit from this new project and be spared from another famine?
And will Areva take on more moral responsibilities in developing the country’s agricultural sector to benefit the Nigerien population at large?
Read more:
http://en.afrik.com/article15648.html
