US GREENLIGHTS $414 MILLION URANIUM INVESTMENT IN NIGER, TWO YEARS AFTER TROOPS LEFT

Sat 19 September 2026:

Washington backs Canadian miner’s Dasa project two years after US troops withdrew from the West African country

The United States has approved a debt facility of up to $414.2 million for a major uranium project in Niger, according to Canadian mining company Global Atomic, marking a renewed commercial engagement with the West African country two years after the withdrawal of US troops.

The US International Development Finance Corporation approved the financing for Global Atomic’s Dasa uranium project, which the company describes as Africa’s highest-grade uranium deposit. However, the funding has not yet been disbursed and remains subject to several conditions.

The investment could strengthen US access to uranium supplies from Niger, which is among the world’s leading uranium producers. The move also comes as Niger remains embroiled in a dispute with French state-backed mining company Orano, which historically played a dominant role in the country’s uranium industry.

US Seeks to Rebuild Economic Ties

People familiar with the discussions said US Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon had pushed for Washington to restore relations with Niger and support the Dasa project after the Trump administration placed greater emphasis on commercial deals and investment in Africa.

The decision follows a major deterioration in US-Niger relations after the military government that seized power in a 2023 coup ordered American forces to leave.

In 2024, the United States agreed to withdraw about 1,000 troops after Niger’s military authorities deemed their presence “illegal” and turned to Russia for security assistance. French forces had also been ordered out of Niger in 2023.

People familiar with the project said Washington viewed the uranium development as a potential way to secure access to a strategic resource amid growing competition over critical minerals.

A source familiar with discussions said Global Atomic chief executive Stephen Roman travelled to Washington during the summer to address outstanding issues delaying the financing approval.

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Funding Remains Subject to Conditions

Despite the approval, Global Atomic still has several hurdles to clear before the financing can be accessed.

The company said the conditions include finding a viable route to export uranium from landlocked Niger, extending the project’s mining convention and permit, securing assurances over government approvals for loan repayments and reaching a direct agreement with the Nigerien government. Final loan documentation with the DFC must also be completed.

The project could also improve economic ties between the United States and Canada, which have faced tensions amid a broader trade dispute between the two countries.

Niger’s government did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

Security Risks Threaten Uranium Exports

The Dasa project faces significant political and security challenges.

Last month, soldiers reportedly attacked a major military airbase, the presidential palace and other sensitive locations in Niger’s capital, Niamey, in what authorities described as an attempted mutiny.

Niger subsequently accused France of orchestrating the attack, a claim France denied.

Security concerns have also forced Global Atomic to examine alternative export routes for uranium produced at Dasa.

One option under consideration is developing a northern route through Algeria and across the Sahara Desert, according to a source briefed on the discussions.

Algeria sent aircraft to Niger last month to assist the government following the attempted coup, a move that underscored closer ties between the neighbouring countries.

Uranium Gains Strategic Importance

Uranium was added to the US critical minerals list last year, increasing Washington’s interest in securing reliable supplies of the nuclear fuel.

For Niger, the Dasa project represents an important development for its uranium sector at a time when relations with its former Western partners have deteriorated and its long-standing relationship with French mining interests has come under strain.

The DFC approval therefore provides a potential new channel for US economic engagement with Niger, although the project’s financing and eventual uranium exports remain dependent on resolving security, political and logistical challenges.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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