Key facts
- Namibia produced about 7,333 tU in 2024: Husab 4,437, Rössing 2,205 and Langer Heinrich 691 (World Nuclear Association).
- Niger's output fell from 3,865 tU in 2011 to 962 tU in 2024; Cominak closed in March 2021 and Niger nationalised Somaïr in June 2025.
- China National Uranium Corporation bought Rio Tinto's 68.6% of Rössing in 2019, and Husab is held through Taurus Minerals and the state-linked Epangelo (10%).
- Langer Heinrich resumed production in March 2024 after care and maintenance.
- Namibian law requires a 15% Namibian interest in any mineral licence, and Epangelo has exclusive control over new strategic mineral developments.
Where African uranium comes from today
Three African countries produce uranium at present: Namibia, Niger and South Africa. Namibia overtook Niger as the continent's leading producer in 2016 and, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), supplied roughly an eighth of world mine output in 2024. Niger, once the main African source, has seen output fall sharply, and South Africa's production is a small gold by-product (see uranium in South Africa). Projects that have not yet entered production are covered in new uranium projects in Africa.
Two features distinguish African uranium: dependence on foreign capital and technology, and the importance of host-state policy. Over the last decade ownership has shifted from European utilities and mining majors towards Chinese state-owned groups in Namibia, while in Niger the state has moved to take control of assets previously run by a French operator.
Namibia: three large mines and who owns them
| Mine | Owner / operator | Key facts (WNA) |
|---|---|---|
| Rössing | Rössing Uranium Ltd; China National Uranium Corporation 68.6%, Iranian Foreign Investment Co 15%, IDC of South Africa 10%, Namibian government 3% | Mining began in 1976; Rio Tinto's stake sold to CNUC, completed July 2019; 2024 output 2,205 tU |
| Husab | Swakop Uranium: Taurus Minerals 90%, Epangelo 10% | Development began February 2013, production from end 2016; design capacity about 5,100 tU/yr; 2024 output 4,437 tU |
| Langer Heinrich | Paladin | Production resumed March 2024 after care and maintenance; 2024 output 691 tU; ramp-up reported complete by end June 2026 |
Rössing is one of the longest-running open-pit uranium mines in the world; a separate page describes it in more detail (Rössing Uranium Mine). Husab is the newest large mine and is the largest Namibian producer. Taurus Minerals is described by the WNA as held through CGN's uranium subsidiary, CGN-URC.
Beyond these three, Orano's Trekkopje has been on care and maintenance since October 2012 and Orano has been studying since 2024 whether conditions for production are met. The Etango project, developed by Bannerman Energy, received a mining licence in December 2023; the WNA reports that CNNC Overseas bought 45% of the project company in September 2026 and that a final investment decision for a 1,350 tU/yr mine was taken in October 2026, with commissioning targeted for 2028.
Namibian state participation and regulation
The state-owned company Epangelo has exclusive control over new strategic mineral developments, including uranium, and holds 10% of Swakop Uranium. The WNA also reports a requirement that any mineral licence include a 15% Namibian interest, and that the Namibian government holds 3% of Rössing.
Mining is regulated under the Minerals (Prospecting and Mining) Act of 1992 and the Ministry of Mines and Energy issues mining licences. The Atomic Energy and Radiation Protection Act of 2005 established the Atomic Energy Board and the National Radiation Protection Authority. For how these controls compare internationally, see regulation of uranium mining.
Niger: Somaïr and Cominak at Arlit and Akokan
Niger's uranium industry developed around two northern mines. Somaïr (Société des mines de l'Aïr), formed in 1968, began production in 1971 at Arlit. It was owned 63.4% by Orano and 36.6% by the Nigerien state company Sopamin, with Orano as operator. Cominak (Compagnie minière d'Akouta), set up in 1974, began production in 1978 at Akouta; it was owned 69% by Orano and 31% by Sopamin.
Cominak closed in March 2021 after more than 40 years and about 75,000 tU produced. Somaïr output was 1,996 tU in 2021, 1,130 tU in 2023 and 959 tU in 2024. Total Niger production, per the WNA, was 3,865 tU in 2011, 3,477 tU in 2016, 2,248 tU in 2021, 1,130 tU in 2023 and 962 tU in 2024.
Environmental and health questions around the Arlit mines have been raised by independent laboratories and civil society groups and are disputed by the operator; they are discussed in uranium mining and indigenous peoples.
Niger since 2023: licence withdrawals and nationalisation
After the July 2023 coup, exports from Somaïr stopped: Niger's government said no uranium had been sold from the mine since 26 July 2023. The WNA records the following sequence:
- June 2024: Niger withdrew Orano's operating permit for the Imouraren project, a 5,000 tU/yr project estimated at €1.9 billion and held 66.65% by Orano Expansion.
- July 2024: mining rights for the Madaouela project, held by GoviEx, were removed.
- December 2024: Orano lost operational control of Somaïr; in January 2025 it filed a claim with the ICSID arbitration centre.
- June 2025: the government nationalised Somaïr.
- November 2025: Orano condemned a uranium shipment from the site, and Niger's president announced the country would sell its uranium on the international market.
- May 2026: draft decrees were adopted to annul the 1968 Arlit concession and create a new company, TSUMCO SA, to replace Somaïr.
These events are contested legally and are ongoing; the descriptions above reflect statements reported by the WNA and not a legal finding. The Chinese-led Azelik venture (SOMINA), which began production at the end of 2010, was placed on care and maintenance by CNNC in February 2015; reports in May 2024 of preparations to resume were not confirmed.
Reading production and ownership numbers carefully
Figures for African mines come from several types of source: company reports, government statistics and compilations such as the Red Book and WNA country profiles. Production numbers are usually stated in tonnes of uranium (tU); company reports often use pounds of U3O8, and the two are not directly comparable without conversion (1 tU is about 2,600 lb U3O8). Ownership percentages change with transactions and sometimes with political decisions, so a stake quoted in one year may differ in another. Where this page cites a date, it refers to the date given by the source. Resource numbers describe what is in the ground, not what will be mined; resources and reserves explains the difference.
Ownership patterns in summary
Chinese state groups hold the largest share of Namibian capacity, through Rössing, Husab and a growing stake in Etango. French state-controlled Orano has historically been the main foreign operator in Niger and holds Trekkopje in Namibia, but its Niger position has been sharply reduced. Host states increasingly seek participation: Epangelo in Namibia, Sopamin and the national government in Niger. For the system-level picture of who mines uranium, see uranium by country. I did not verify other foreign holdings, such as Russian or Canadian-listed interests in projects, for this page.
Frequently asked questions
Which African country produces the most uranium?
Namibia. The World Nuclear Association reports about 7,333 tU in 2024 from Husab, Rössing and Langer Heinrich, compared with 962 tU in Niger.
Who owns the Rössing mine?
According to the World Nuclear Association, China National Uranium Corporation holds 68.6% after buying Rio Tinto's stake in 2019, with Iranian Foreign Investment Co 15%, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa 10% and the Namibian government 3%.
Is Cominak still operating?
No. Cominak, at Akouta in Niger, closed in March 2021 after more than 40 years and about 75,000 tU of production.
What happened to Somaïr?
Orano lost operational control in December 2024 and Niger's government nationalised Somaïr in June 2025, according to the World Nuclear Association. Orano has pursued international arbitration, and the dispute is ongoing.
Has Langer Heinrich restarted?
Yes. Paladin resumed production in March 2024 after a period of care and maintenance, and the ramp-up was reported complete by the end of June 2026.
Sources and further reading
- World Nuclear Association — Uranium and Nuclear Power in Namibia (2026)
- World Nuclear Association — Uranium and Nuclear Power in Niger (2026)
- World Nuclear Association — China's Nuclear Fuel Cycle (2026)
- World Nuclear Association — World Uranium Mining Production (2025)
- World Nuclear Association — Uranium and Nuclear Power in South Africa (uranium section) (2026)
- World Nuclear News — Red Book provides 'snapshot' of uranium situation (2023)
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