World Bank tribunal bars Niger uranium sales from Somaïr mine

A World Bank arbitration body ordered Niger to refrain from trading Orano SA’s uranium from the Somaïr mine that the West African nation’s junta seized from the French nuclear-power company earlier this year.

An International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ruling bars Niger from selling or transferring of uranium from the mine, or facilitating its transfer to third parties, Orano said in a statement on Friday.

Niger’s military government took control of the mine in June after blocking exports for months and raiding Orano’s offices in the capital, Niamey, escalating a standoff between the company and the nation’s military government.

The center also urged Niger to release Orano’s detained country representative in line with an appeal court’s ruling in Niamey in July.

(By Katarina Höije)