The Nigerien government has set up a committee of experts tasked with initiating legal proceedings and drafting complaints against French nuclear operator Orano.
Minister of Justice Alio Daouda, speaking at a ceremony to establish the committee, said the government’s decision to nationalise the exploitation of mineral resources had prompted several legal actions by the Orano Group against Niger at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), where the company is seeking compensation over alleged mining ownership on Nigerien territory.
He said these actions had triggered a retaliatory response from the authorities, who are now pursuing legal action against the French company in national and international courts to seek judgments and reparations for damages suffered.
The minister explained that the committee has been mandated to gather information on “all violations of environmental, health, and tax regulations” allegedly committed by the operator in the course of its uranium mining activities in the country.
He stressed that legal action would be pursued “before national, regional, and international judicial and arbitration bodies, including French courts.”
The Nigerien government announced on December 2 its intention to sue Orano after discovering 400 barrels containing radioactive core samples at a former uranium mining site abandoned by the company in the Arlit department of northern Niger.
Authorities accused the company of causing environmental damage and posing health risks to local communities.
As of the time of filing this report, Orano had not issued any official response to the announcement.
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