Mining by country

Mining in Niger

Mining in Niger: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents at 0.8% of GDP (2021) and ores and metals at 0% of merchandise exports (2024). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0.8%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 77% of countries.
Ores and metals0%of merchandise exports, 2024.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law-1.13above 17% of countries
  • Political stability-1.77above 7% of countries
  • Regulatory quality-0.77above 22% of countries
  • Control of corruption-0.74above 27% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Niger at a glance

First recorded mining
1957 (uranium found at Azelik). France's BRGM, looking for copper, found uranium at Azelik in 1957; the French atomic energy commission followed up with discoveries at Abokurum 1959, Madaouela 1963… Source: World Nuclear Association
Defining moment
1971: first commercial uranium production at Arlit. SOMAIR started production from the Arlette/Arlit deposit in 1971, 250 km north of Agadez. Source: World Nuclear Association
Mining law
Mining Law (Law No. 2006-26). Law No. 2006-26 of 9 August 2006 is the framework for the mineral industry. Source: USGS
State mining company
Société de Patrimoine des Mines du Niger (SOPAMIN). Owns the Samira Hill gold mine outright and holds shares in the uranium companies: 36.6% of SOMAIR and 31% of COMINAK. Source: USGS
Nationalisations
June 2025 SOMAIR nationalised. After the July 2023 coup exports of SOMAIR uranium stopped; Orano said in December 2024 it had lost operational control, began arbitration in January 2025, and the… Source: World Nuclear Association
Key mining regions
Agadez Region (Arlit and Azelik uranium, Anou Araren coal); Bilma salt pans in the Ténéré Desert; Samira Hill (gold, 90 km west of Niamey) Source: USGS
Main mines
Koma Bangou (gold), Tapoa (phosphate), Arlit (uranium, vanadium) Source: USGS
Signature minerals
uranium Source: USGS

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Niger

What the ground holds. gold, iron-ore, phosphate, tin and uranium. Source: USGS

  1. 1957 (uranium found at Azelik)France's BRGM, looking for copper, found uranium at Azelik in 1957; the French atomic energy commission…Source: World Nuclear Association
  2. 1971: first commercial uranium production at ArlitSOMAIR started production from the Arlette/Arlit deposit in 1971, 250 km north of Agadez.Source: World Nuclear Association
  3. June 2025 SOMAIR nationalisedAfter the July 2023 coup exports of SOMAIR uranium stopped; Orano said in December 2024 it had lost…Source: World Nuclear Association

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Africa

South AfricaDR CongoMozambiqueGhanaMadagascarRwandaNigeriaGuineaMoroccoTanzania

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.