Niger : foundation stone laid on Imouraren mining site

Press release

NUCLEAR POWER / MINING

May 04, 2009

His Excellency Mamadou Tandja, President of Niger, today laid the foundation stone of the Imouraren mining complex, in the presence of Alain Joyandet, French Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophony, and AREVA CEO Anne Lauvergeon. A ceremony to mark the occasion was also attended by several hundred guests, including local people, and representatives from Nigerien authorities, AREVA and the media.

Imouraren will be Africa’s biggest open-cast uranium mine, and the second biggest worldwide. Its production, set to last more than 35 years and reach 5000 tons per year, will double Niger’s annual output and take it to number two in the world rankings.

The site, which received an initial investment of over €1.2 billion, will create nearly 1400 direct jobs.

Over and above the financial benefits of the mine, AREVA will continue and even strengthen its social and economic development policy in Niger. The group is involving local stakeholders and taking action in the fields of health, education and training, transport and access to water and energy for the local populations. It will be committing €6 million to this action every year for the next five years.

Anne Lauvergeon: "The mining infrastructures AREVA is building at Imouraren will strengthen the close partnership the group has had with Niger for the past forty years."