First Independent Mena Newspaper
Russia and Ethiopia have officially signed a long-anticipated nuclear cooperation agreement, marking a major milestone in Moscow’s growing strategic engagement across Africa. The deal, finalized at a nuclear energy forum by Ethiopian Electric Power Company and Russia’s state-owned Rosatom, outlines the construction of Ethiopia’s first nuclear power plant. The agreement includes a comprehensive roadmap for […]
Russia has offered to build a nuclear power plant in Niger, signaling a bold move to displace France’s decades-long dominance in the uranium-rich West African nation. The proposal, announced in July, comes amid escalating tensions between Niger’s military government and Paris, and as Niamey seeks greater control over its natural resources. Despite producing 4% of […]
Niger’s military-led government has nationalized the country’s only industrial gold mine, Société des Mines du Liptako (SML), accusing its Australian operator, McKinel Resources, of “serious breaches,” including failure to fulfill a $10 million investment pledge. The junta, in power since a 2023 coup, framed the move as a strategic step toward national resource control. “In […]
Foreign mining companies in the Sahel region are currently experiencing a nightmare scenario, as military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are seeking to reclaim control over the mining of gold and other valuable resources. With gold mining accounting for over 90% of Mali’s exports, highlighting its critical economic role, the junta-led government aims […]
Niger’s military junta has invited Russian firms to invest in the country’s uranium and other natural resource production after French nuclear group Orano halted uranium output there last month, part of an ongoing dispute between Niamey and its former colonial master, France. “We have already met with Russian companies that are interested in coming to […]
Turkey is diversifying its African partners, moving from east Africa to the Sahel and Niger in particular where Ankara sees mining opportunities. In this respect, Turkey signed a deal to cooperate in the mining sector in the covered uranium-rich but unstable Sahel country. Turkey and Niger signed a provisional pact to boost cooperation in mining, […]
Africa will play a “huge role” in America’s critical mineral strategy, says US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo who used his five-day trip to South Africa to express his country’s ambitions of securing metals needed for the global energy transition. Africa’s natural richness, which includes many so-called critical minerals, such as chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, […]
Niger’s authorities have temporarily halted the issuance of new mining licenses and ordered an audit of the industry, the Ministry of Mining announced, according to press reports. It is unclear what motivated the measure. However, it comes amid the increase in the price of the commodity on the international market. Last week, the price of […]
Mali’s military leader and interim president, Assimi Goita, had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about the escalating situation in Niger, amid growing concerns in the West that Africa’s latest coup undermines its influence while presenting an opportunity to expand Russia’s presence in the West African region. The Kremlin said Mali’s […]
Morocco sits on tremendous uranium reserves thanks to its world’s largest phosphates deposits that could help the country power its desalination plants and export surplus, the Middle East Institute said. The paper, by Michael Tanchum, recalls that 73% of the world’s phosphate rock reserves contain an estimated 6.9 million tons of uranium, that compares to […]