NIAMEY, Niger
French nuclear company Areva reached an agreement on Monday with the Republic of Niger to continue operating two uranium mines in the country.
“After two years of negotiations Areva accepted to pay a minimum of 12 percent from the revenues of the two uranium mines in Niger, according to Niger's 2006 mining code,” said a statement from Niger’s government and Areva. It added that the French company is also to invest more in the local development and will be excluded from the value-added tax of the two mines
Prior to the deal, Areva was paying 5.5 percent from its revenues from the mines to Niger, which led to criticism and accusations of exploitation.
Areva, the world's second-largest uranium producer, makes one third of its annual revenue from uranium mined at Cominak and Somair in northern Niger.
Niger remains among the poorest countries in Africa, despite the fact that it is the fourth largest uranium producer in the world.
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