Niger Coup Could Impact Long-Term French, EU Uranium Supplies

The removal of pro-Western President Mohamed Bazoum in the Sahelian nation of Niger last week could pose some long-term threats to EU uranium supplies, impacting France in particular. Niger provides 15% of the Uranium for France's nuclear reactors and 1/5 of the EU's total imports. Speaking to Politico, a French energy ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity stated that “France is not dependent on any one site, company or country to ensure the security of supply for its power plants...The situation in Niger poses no risk to France's security of supply for natural uranium,”

• Politico also reports that "The French government and energy experts were quick to stress that the tensions will not have any immediate impact on France's needs for uranium as extraction is continuing and, should it stop, existing stocks could still cover approximately two years."
• However, over the longer term a halt to Nigerien supply could prove impactful. The coup leaders have talked up relations with Russia and the Wagner mercenary group at the expense of Western ties. This could see uranium supplies to the EU halted for some time should the coup leaders retain power. Given the EU has already sought to reduce import of Russian uranium for its nuclear plants, losing Nigerien supply could see shortages or force the EU to open new supply links in the future.