Turkey Seeks Access to Niger’s Uranium Deposits Amidst Shifts in Mining Rights
On Wednesday, Turkey’s foreign, defense, and energy ministers visited Niger to negotiate access to the country’s substantial uranium reserves.
This move comes in the wake of Niger’s recent revocation of mining rights held by Canadian and French companies, following the military coup that took control of the West African nation in July 2023.
The Turkish delegation, led by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and accompanied by top intelligence official Ibrahim Kalin, aims to tap into Niger’s uranium resources to support Turkey’s expanding nuclear power sector.
This interest is particularly relevant as Turkey’s first nuclear power plant, the Akkuyu facility on the Mediterranean coast, is under construction by Russia’s state-run Rosatom, with two additional plants planned.
According to the World Nuclear Association, Niger holds about 5% of the world’s uranium resources and ranks among the top ten global providers of this critical fuel. The Turkish delegation’s visit coincides with reported efforts by Russia to acquire some of Niger’s uranium assets, as noted by Bloomberg.
Turkey’s interest in Niger’s uranium is driven by its need for fuel for the Akkuyu plant, as it currently does not have the capacity to convert or enrich uranium ore into reactor-ready material. Instead, Turkey maintains a long-term fuel-supply agreement with Rosatom for the Akkuyu project.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has consistently aimed to enhance Turkey’s influence across Africa through various initiatives, including launching media channels, selling drones, and providing ship-mounted power plants.
He has also supported Niger’s decision to halt uranium exports to France, criticizing France for its historical oppression of Niger, a former French colony that gained independence in 1960.
