GoviEx Uranium, a Canada-based company focused on uranium prospection and exploration in Africa, has completed a feasibility study for the Madouela uranium project in Niger. The US$343m project, which is expected to produce 2.67 Mlb/year U3O8 of uranium over 19 years starting in 2025, contains 100 Mlb U3O8 of uranium in measured and indicated mineral resources, plus inferred resources of 9,071 t.
The project is located in the Agadez region in the northern part of Niger adjacent to Orano’s operations of Somair and Cominak and benefits from the existing infrastructure. GoviEx operates the mine and holds an 80% interest of the Nigerien operating company Comina with the remaining 20% held by the government of Niger, of which 10% represents a free-carry interest.
In 2020, Niger produced 2,991 t of uranium. Its total reserves are estimated at 315,500 t. In 2021, the Cominak mine in Arlit was shut down after its resources were depleted.