Global Atomic has received a letter from the government of Niger in which president Tiani and the Council of ministers confirm support for the company and development of its Dasa uranium project.
The Canada-based company said it continues to develop the Dasa Project and expects to be bringing the mine and the processing plant into production at the end of 2025 for delivery of yellowcake to utilities in the US and other countries in early 2026.
Global Atomic president and chief executive officer Stephen Roman said the letter confirms strong support from the government of Niger for the Dasa project and the company’s progress in its development to date.
Roman said the letter confirms Dasa is considered a strategic investment for Niger.
“The letter highlights that we have always complied with Niger’s regulations,” Roman said.
“The mines minister, during his site visit in May 2024, witnessed our commitment to predominately populate our local management and operating staff from Niger’s workforce and prioritise Niger companies for the supply of goods and services, where practical.
“We are pleased to see that the government recognises not only the socio-economic benefits that accrue to Niger from Dasa, but also the excellent ESG work we have been doing since 2008.”
The Dasa project lies within the Adrar Emoles III licence area, 105 km south of the established uranium mining town of Arlit. Bank Postpones Dasa Presentation
It emerged recently that a US development bank postponed a scheduled July presentation about the Dasa project to its credit committee, with the company saying it will move to “finalise other financing discussions” if there are further delays.
Global Atomic said the unnamed development bank was moving a planned debt financing facility, previously reported to ben CAD295m ($215m, €195m), through its approval process.
The bank postponed its scheduled July presentation of the project to its credit committee, but Roman said the company remains confident that the bank will eventually approve the project.
In June, Niger’s ruling military junta, which came to power following a coup in July 2023, revoked the operating licence of French company Orano at the Imouraren mine, which sits on one of the biggest uranium deposits in the world.
Last month Canada-based GoviEx Uranium said the junta had withdrawn its licence for the Madaouela uranium mine, dealing a major blow to the development of one of the world’s largest uranium projects.