China builds US$140m uranium mine in Niger

In a sign of China’s growing interest in securing metal supplies in Africa, two state-owned Chinese companies have agreed to construct a uranium mine complex in Niger. The contract value is US$140 million.

Sinohydro Corporation, China’s leading hydraulic construction contractor, and Chinese Nuclear Overseas Uranium Resources Development Company (SinoUranium), which is a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation, have agreed to construct the mine for the project owner, Niger Azelik Mining Industry. Niger Azelik is owned by the Niger government, China National Nuclear Corp. and Beijing Zxjoy Technology & Trade.

Beside the mine itself, the facility will also include two coal-fired power plants, each with a six megawatt output, and a hydrometallurgy plant. Annual production capacity will be 600,000 tonnes, and the project will be completed in 2.5 years.

Sinohydro has released news of the agreement on April 2. The English-language website People’s Daily Online ran a story about the agreement on April 8, based on a news report by Xinhua news agency.