France’s Orano suspends uranium processing operations in Niger
- September 14, 2023
- Posted by: Quatro Strategies
- Categories: Africa, Europe, Mining & Metals
French nuclear group Orano SA is suspending uranium ore processing at one of its facilities in Niger due to international sanctions against the military junta, which are affecting logistics. This move could potentially tighten supplies of uranium used to fuel nuclear reactors in several countries, including the US, China, and Europe, and force utilities to rely more on other producers like Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia.
Orano’s uranium treatment plant in Niger was originally scheduled for maintenance early next year, but it has been moved forward due to depleting stockpiles of the chemicals needed for processing. Operations are continuing at Orano’s Somair mine, which is partially owned by the Niger government.
Orano typically exports uranium concentrate to Benin, where it is shipped either back to France or to Canada. There are usually 4-6 shipments per year.
To secure supply for its customers, Orano is also sourcing material from mines in Canada and Kazakhstan, where it holds stakes. In the short term, there is no emergency, but the situation highlights the potential impact of geopolitical events on the global uranium supply chain.
Interested in learning more?
Sign up for Top Insights Today
Top Insights Today delivers the latest insights straight to your inbox.
You will get daily industry insights on
Oil & Gas, Rare Earths & Commodities, Mining & Metals, EVs & Battery Technology, ESG & Renewable Energy, AI & Semiconductors, Aerospace & Defense, Sanctions & Regulation, Business & Politics.
Read more insights
India signals long-term pivot to U.S. with unprecedented trade offer
India is offering a rare and powerful incentive to clinch a trade deal with the United States — a special clause that would ensure Washington always gets the most favorable terms India agrees to with any other country in the future.
The provision, known as a forward most-favoured-nation (MFN) clause, is designed to “future-proof” the deal. If granted, it would automatically extend to the U.S. any better tariff terms India might offer to another trade partner down the line. Such clauses are highly unusual in India’s trade agreements, highlighting the strategic importance New Delhi is placing on securing a comprehensive deal with the Trump administration.
Trade walls rise across the world as globalization reverses course
The unfolding wave of protectionism across the globe represents one of the most significant shifts in international trade policy since the post-World War II era. While President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has certainly accelerated the trend, what we’re witnessing is not merely the result of one administration’s agenda. Rather, it reflects a broader breakdown of the global consensus that had supported globalization, free trade, and multilateral cooperation for more than seven decades.
Trump’s aggressive tariff policies—targeting China, Mexico, Canada, the European Union, and even allies like South Korea—are only part of the story. Long before his re-election, countries had already begun erecting trade barriers, particularly against Chinese goods, as they sought to defend domestic industries from a flood of cheap electric vehicles, steel, solar panels, and other manufactured exports.
Toyota starts up $13.9B U.S. battery plant, bets big on hybrids
Toyota has thrown the switch on a $13.9 billion battery complex in North Carolina, turning a long-planned U.S. bet into live production as it pivots its lineup toward hybrids and prepares an all-electric three-row model. The new plant, which is set to become Toyota’s eleventh U.S. factory, sits on 1,850 acres, is designed for 30 gigawatt-hours a year at full tilt, and will eventually run 14 lines supplying packs for plug-in hybrids and full EVs.
Initial output is flowing to hybrid versions of the Camry, Corolla Cross, and RAV4 bound for assembly plants in Kentucky and Toyota’s joint venture with Mazda in Alabama. The company paired the launch with a fresh pledge to invest another $10 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next five years, lifting its cumulative stateside commitment above $60 billion and targeting about 5,000 jobs at the battery site alone.