The Nigerien government has signed a global partnership agreement with Orano to operate the Somaïr uranium mine in Northern Niger until 2040, compared to 2029 previously. In addition, the two partners agreed to postpone the start of exploitation of Imouraren, one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, also in northern Niger, whose reserves have been estimated at around 200 kt. They are aimed at reaching an investment decision by 2028 if feasibility is confirmed after a testing phase, which should start in 2024. The project was awarded to Orano in 2009. It was suspended in 2014 pending more favourable market conditions.
In March 2021, the Cominak uranium mine in Arlit was shut down. The site's redevelopment and environmental monitoring is expected to continue for at least two decades. Cominak (Compagnie minière d’Akouta) was 34% owned by France’s Orano, 31% by the Nigerien state-owned mining company Sopamin, 25% by Japan’s Overseas Uranium Resources Development (OURD), and 10% by Enusa (Spain). The Cominak mine produced 80,000 tons of uranium in 40 years of operation.