The United States government has approved up to $414 million in financing for a uranium mining project in Niger, two years after Washington withdrew about 1,000 troops from the West African country.
The financing was approved by the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for the Dasa uranium project, operated by Canadian mining company Global Atomic. The company describes Dasa as one of Africa’s highest-grade uranium deposits.
The deal could strengthen US access to Niger’s strategic uranium resources at a time when Niger, one of the world’s major uranium producers, is involved in a dispute with French state-backed mining company Orano, which has historically played a major role in the country’s uranium sector.
US officials and people familiar with the discussions said the investment could help Washington rebuild relations with Niger’s military government while securing an important critical mineral supply.
The United States agreed in 2024 to withdraw its troops from Niger after the military authorities that seized power in a 2023 coup rejected the continued US military presence and strengthened security ties with Russia. French forces had also left Niger in 2023.
The Dasa project, however, faces significant security and political challenges. Niger has experienced continued instability, including an attempted mutiny in the capital, Niamey, last month.
Global Atomic is also examining alternative routes to transport uranium out of landlocked Niger because of security concerns. One option under consideration is a route through Algeria and across the Sahara Desert.
The investment could also improve economic ties between the US and Canada, which have faced tensions amid a trade dispute.
Uranium was added to the US critical minerals list last year, increasing Washington’s interest in securing supplies from countries such as Niger.
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