Oil and mining industry of Niger

Known and exploited Mineral resources of Niger, data derived from US Geological Survey. Colored circles represent current mining centers. Unexploited but proved resources in parentheses. * Gold: Au * Coal: C * Diamond: Dm * Iron ore: Fe * Limestone: Ls * Phosphate: P * Petroleum, crude: Pet * Tin: Sn

The mineral mining industry is a crucial piece of the Economy of Niger. Exports of minerals consistently account for 40% of exports.

Mineral commodities produced in Niger included cement, coal, gold, gypsum, limestone, salt, silver, tin, and uranium. In 2006, Niger was the world's fourth-ranked producer of uranium.[1] A new mining code was adopted in August 2006 and the former National Mine research Office (ONAREM), whose responsibilities included organizing mining exploration programs, was replaced by two newly established entities: the geological and Mining Research Center and the Mining Company of Niger (SOPaMin). SOPaMin is to hold the state's shares in the existing uranium companies and is in charge of engaging in commercial transactions, such as uranium sales. Since the adoption of the new Mining Code, the government has issued a significant number of new mineral exploration permits. Niger joined the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) in 2005 and, as part of the EITI efforts, appointed in late 2006 a national consultative committee, which included representatives of the general public. A first audit report reconciling revenue paid by mining companies with government receipts was scheduled to be issued in late 2007.[2][3]

Following the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état, the mining ministry suspended the granting of new mining licenses while it conducted an audit of the sector.[4][5]

  1. ^ Uranium information Centre Ltd., 2007, World uranium mining—nuclear issues briefing paper 41: Melbourne, Australia, uranium information Centre Ltd., July. (accessed November 1, 2007, at "World Uranium Mining". Archived from the original on 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2008-04-15. .)
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey/Omayra Bermúdez-Lugo. The Mineral industries of Mauritania and Niger. in U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2006. U.S. Geological Survey/U.S. Department of the Interior (July 2008) Note: this publication is in the Public Domain, and large portions of it are reproduced here verbatim.
  3. ^ International Monetary Fund, 2007b, p. 5; 2007c, p. 9
  4. ^ Cossins-Smith, Annabel (26 January 2024). "Niger suspends granting of new mining licenses". MiningTechnology. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference i24news-20230808 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).