Page 12 - AfrElec Week 10 2023
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AfrElec NUCLEAR AfrElec
Niger’s Court overturns orders against
Global Atomic’s subsidiary
NIGER
CANADA-BASED uranium explorer and devel- statement.
oper, Global Atomic Corporation, has said that The appeal hearing was expedited due to
the Appeals Court in Tahoua, Niger, has over- the importance of the Dasa uranium project to
turned and annulled all issues raised against its the economy of Niger. “SOMIDA did not cease
mining subsidiary, SOMIDA (Société Minere de underground development of the Dasa Mine
Dasa). due to the court proceedings and remains on its
SOMIDA is a joint venture between the TSX- development schedule,” said Global Atomic.
and Frankfurt-listed Canadian miner and the The development of the Dasa project has
Republic of Niger, with Global Atomic owning been controversial, with concerns raised by
an 80% interest and the government a 20% stake. some local communities and civil society groups
The Dasa uranium project is an underground about the potential environmental and social
high-grade uranium mine being developed by impacts of uranium mining in the region. The
The development Global Atomic. It is located within the Adrar project is located near several existing uranium
Emoles 3 (AE3) licence area, about 105km south mines, which have been associated with envi-
of the Dasa of the established uranium mining town of Arlit. ronmental contamination and health impacts in
Earlier last month, a local court in Agadez, some areas.
project has been Niger, issued several orders against SOMIDA According to Global Atomic’s statement, the
controversial, in response to demands from several local organisations that sought the orders have been
organisations. One order required SOMIDA active locally in Agadez in seeking changes from
with concerns to cease all operations under the Adrar Emoles the government in several unrelated areas, rang-
4 (AE4) exploration permit, which is held by ing from how the government uses the royalty
raised by Global Atomic’s subsidiary, Global Atomic Fuels revenue it receives to the price of onions.
some local Corporation. Global Atomic’s Uranium Division includes
However, Global Atomic Fuels Corporation four deposits, with Dasa being its flagship pro-
communities was not named in the orders, the miner said in ject, discovered in 2010 by Global Atomic geol-
a statement. Although the orders were issued ogists through grassroots field exploration. The
to SOMIDA, the order requiring the cessation Dasa project is fully permitted by the Republic of
of operations was in respect of AE4, not Adrar Niger for commercial production.
Emoles 3, where the Dasa uranium project is Mine excavation began in Q1 2022, and the
located. miner estimates yellowcake delivery to utilities
The AE4 permit covers Global Atomic’s to commence in 2025. When further processed,
Isakanen deposit that is currently undergoing yellowcake becomes enriched uranium and can
exploration and initial tests for recovery (ISR) of be used in the manufacture of nuclear fuel. Niger
uranium and is not considered a material prop- is among the top ten producers of uranium in
erty of the company, Global Atomic said in a the world.
P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 10 08•March•2023
