After Being Forced Out of Niger, France Turns to Botswana For New Mining Deals

France is actively pursuing uranium deals in Botswana to secure nuclear fuel supplies following the loss of access to mines in Niger after the 2023 coup. French state-backed company Orano has secured exploration licenses covering approximately 15,000 square kilometers in Botswana’s Ghanzi district, targeting significant, untapped deposits.

• Strategic Shift: With ~70% of its electricity generated by nuclear power, France is diversifying to avoid supply disruptions after Nigerien military leadership nationalized the SOMAIR mine, where Orano held a 63.4% stake.

• Botswana’s Potential: Botswana is known primarily for diamonds but holds roughly 800,000 tonnes of estimated uranium resources.
• Orano’s Investment: Orano’s expansion is seen as a “discreet diplomatic push” to tap into these resources. While not yet a producer, Botswana’s Letlhakane region is considered high-potential.

• Future Outlook: The shift to Botswana is a long-term strategy for France, as projects are still years from producing commercial quantities of uranium.

Orano’s Operations in Botswana

• Exploration Licenses: Orano has already secured prospecting rights covering approximately 15,000 km² in Botswana’s Ghanzi region.
• Local Presence: The company has registered a local subsidiary in Gaborone to fast-track development and is currently awaiting final approval for additional licenses.
• Timeline: While Botswana holds the massive Letlhakane uranium mine reserves—one of the largest undeveloped resources globally—active production is still several years away.

Botswana’s Economic Strategy

For Botswana, these deals represent a move to diversify its economy away from a heavy reliance on diamonds. However, the negotiations have sparked domestic debate over resource sovereignty, with some local voices and organizations like African Hype Media demanding that Botswana retain greater ownership and ensure minerals are processed locally before export.

🗣️This move marks a significant shift in France’s African energy strategy, focusing on new partnerships in Southern Africa.

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/after-losing-a-key-uranium-mine-in-niger-france-turns-to-botswana-for-new-mining/sh3z8b3

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After losing a key uranium mine in Niger, France turns to Botswana for new mining deals as Europe scrambles for supply

France is setting its sights on Botswana for uranium deals months after losing access to Niger’s SOMAIR mine, where it held a 63