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NATIONAL REPORTS: NIGER

options, mine design, infrastructure, rock mechanics, tailings and heap leach, hydrogeological and environmental impact. In November 2017, NI 43-101 compliant resources of the Madaouela Uranium Project were 42 615 tU measured and indicated resources and 10 654 tU inferred resources. An open-pit mine on at least part of the deposit, by underground room and pillar mining with conventional processing is expected to produce 1 030 tU/yr over 21 years, with potential for expanding the resource. Production is expected to begin by 2022. The environmental and social impact assessment for the project was filed with the Nigerien government in March 2015, and the company obtained a mining licence in January 2016.

Global Atomic Fuels Corp., a private Canadian company, had six exploration permits (728.8 km2) located in the north of Agadez, four at Tin Negouran (the “TN permits”) and two at Adrar Emoles (the “AE Permits”).

The Adrar Emoles permit hosts the Dasa deposit. The Dasa deposit occurs at the intersection between the Adrar Emoles flexure and the east-northeast trending Azouza Fault. The Azouza Fault comprises several steep east-northeast faults characterised by significant vertical displacement and forming a regional graben structure. The Dasa deposit can be described as a roll-front style deposit that formed in a meandering stream depositional environment with basal sands and basal conglomerates with secondary remobilisation possibly being due to a later methane event, a hydrothermal event or a groundwater event.

From 2010 to 2014, Global Atomics Fuels Corp had drilled 969 holes (867 rotary drill holes and 102 diamond drill holes), for a total of > 120 000 m in carboniferous sediments. In January 2014, SRK Exploration Services released an initial resource estimation, which totalled 43 850 tU grading 540 ppm U, using an 85 ppm U cut-off. The Dasa inferred resource occurs within a 500 m wide corridor along a 1.2 km long trend. In June 2014, Global Atomic announced an internal update. Resource estimates range from 64 600 tU at 490 ppm U (85 ppm U cut-off), to 29 600 tU grading 0.29% U (0.127% U cut-off). The base case appears to be the 36 500 tU grading at 0.222% U (0.085% U cut-off).

In 2017, Global Atomic Fuels Corp changed its name to Global Atomic Corporation (GAC) and released a new NI 43-101 compliant report by CSA Global Pty. Ltd listing the indicated resources as 60 million pounds of U3O8 with an average grade of 4 552 ppm U3O8 using a cut-off of 1 200 ppm U3O8. The inferred resources were given as 48.1 million pounds at 2 651 ppm U3O8 again using the 1 200 ppm U3O8 cut-off. GAC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Orano (ex Areva) on ore sales and joint co-operation. A 37 000 metre drilling programme to further extend the resources started in late January 2018 on Dasa.

In addition to Dasa, two other deposits are located on the Adrar Emoles permits, Dajy and Isakanan. The Dajy deposit is located along the same major NE-SW trending Azouza Fault, which hosts the Azelik and Dasa deposits, 30 km SE of Imouraren. Whereas Dasa can be traced to surface, Dajy occurs at depth. Dajy uranium mineralisation is hosted in three sandstone units over a 3.5 km long and 400 m wide area, the Tarat sandstone, the Guezouman sandstone and the Madouela sandstone. The Dajy deposit hosts 6 400 tU grading 584 ppm U (inferred resources). The Isakanan deposit is located 15 km south of the Dasa and Dajy deposits. It hosts 13 000 tU grading 760 ppm U. The Tin Negouran Permits 1- 4 host the Tagadamat deposit. This deposit strikes for 3 km. The mineralisation occurs within surface paleochannels with potential for open-pit, heap leach mineralisation. The Tagadamat deposit hosts 3 500 tU grading 150 ppm U. An environmental baseline study was completed in 2009, but the project is today on hold.

URU Metals Limited reported a SAMREC (South African Mineral Resource Committee) compliant inferred resource of 1 654 tU on their In Gall deposit and in 2011 continued to drill the Aboye, Akenzigui and Fagochia targets within their Irhazer and In Gall permits. Project commitments elsewhere and caused URU Metals to take steps to terminate activities in Niger by 2014.

NATIONAL REPORTS: NIGER

In December 2010, Paladin completed the takeover of NGM Resources Ltd, the owner of the local company Indo Energy Ltd that held concessions in the Agadez region. NGM Resources had announced an inferred mineral resource of 4 320 tU. In early 2011, Paladin carried out a drilling programme that further defined targets for follow-up and information from the drilling was used to plan a 15 000 m follow-up drilling campaign. However, this was put on hold because of security concerns. All fieldwork has ceased and Force Majeure has been requested from the government authorities for an indefinite suspension of further expenditures.

In 2011, GazPromBank NIGER MINERALS SARL, a Russian company was granted two uranium licences (Toulouk) located in the Tim Mersoï Basin. On March 2017, the company submitted a pre-feasibility study through which it declares according to the JORC code the following resources:

•tabular mineralisation with 29 630 t of uranium metal at a grade of 157 ppm;

•a roll-front deposit containing 17 000 t of uranium metal with a grade varying from 400 to 600 ppm;

•and a surface deposit containing 823 7 t of uranium metal at a grade of 252 ppm.

Uranium resources

Identified conventional resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources)

The total recoverable identified conventional resources for Niger, as of the end of 2017, amounted to 425 577 tU, compared to 411 387 tU as of the end of 2014. All uranium deposits in Niger are sandstone-hosted, with average grades of 0.07 to 0.40% U.

Undiscovered conventional resources (prognosticated and speculative resources)

Total speculative and prognosticated resources in Niger, as of 1 January 2017, amounted to 64 900 tU (unchanged from 2014).

Uranium production

Historical review

Uranium has been produced from sandstone deposits in Niger since 1971 by Somaïr and 1978 by Cominak.

The Société des Mines d’Azelik SA (SOMINA) was established in 2007 to mine the Azelik/Teguidda deposits. Azelik has been developed by the CNNC and came into production at the end of 2010, with the aim to ramp up to 700 tU/yr. It is an open-pit and underground operation using alkaline leach.

Uranium production in Niger has been increasing in recent years as efficiencies have been introduced. In 2015, production recorded for Niger amounted to 4 116 tU, then decreased to 3 477 tU in 2016, and remained almost the same in 2017 (3 485 tU), due mainly to depressed uranium prices.

NATIONAL REPORTS: NIGER

Status of production facilities, production capability, recent and ongoing activities and other issues

Somaïr and Cominak were licensed to the end of 2013, and in mid-December 2013 both were shut down for maintenance, pending resolution of negotiation on licence renewal. The mines resumed operation at the end of January 2014 under the terms of a government decree. In May 2014, the government and Areva signed a new five-year agreement for the two mines based on the 2006 mining law and expressing what both sides said was a balanced partnership. The royalty rate will increase potentially to 12% of market value, but this increase depends on profitability.

In August 2014, CNNC announced that Azelik has experienced prolonged project delays, overruns in its construction budget, and low production. In February 2015, CNNC announced that the mine would be closed and put on care and maintenance because of “tight cash flow”.

In the autumn of 2017, Areva (Orano) decided to reduce the capacity of production at Somaïr due to current weak uranium market conditions.

Ownership structure of the uranium industry

The ownership structure of Niger’s four uranium production companies are set out in the table below:

Employment in the uranium industry

As of 1 January 2018, 898 workers were employed at the Somaïr mine and 776 at the Cominak mine. It is reported that 99% of the workers at these two mines are Nigerien. About 680 workers were employed at the Azelik mine, but due to the cessation of mining operations, only 25 workers have been retained. The Imouraren project employed about 300 during the development stage and is expected to create about 1 400 permanent and up to 3 000 indirect jobs when the facility is in full production.

Future production centres

In May 2009, development of the Imouraren mine was launched with an initial investment of more than USD 1.9 billion. Once up to full production capacity, production of 5 000 tU/yr for 35 years is expected. Production, originally scheduled to start mid-2015, was delayed owing to poor market conditions.

GoviEx has completed a preliminary feasibility study and proposed an openpit/underground mine development at the Madaouela project, which could go into production around 2022 with a capacity to produce 1 040 tU/yr at the beginning and plans to reach 5 000 tU/yr when fully operational.

Global Atomic Fuels plans to construct its first mine at Dasa. It is targeting a 770 tU annual capacity with potential to ramp up to 1 900 tU production per year. Global Atomic has spent approximately CAD 50 million on exploration and development to date on its Niger projects and expects to apply for its mining licence for the Dasa project.

NATIONAL REPORTS: NIGER

Environmental activities and socio-cultural issues

Both mining operations at Somaïr and Cominak have maintained their ISO 14001 certification for environmental management for many years (certification is renewed every three years). Areva maintains that environmental issues, including water preservation is fundamentally important to their operations. The mandate of the AMAN project, established in 2004, is to study the existing aquifers in the Arlit and Akokan areas to ensure an adequate supply of potable and industrial water is available and not being compromised. Areva has initiated ways to conserve and reduce water consumption and reports that over the past 15 years the annual consumption of water at the mines has been reduced by 35% while uranium production at Somaïr has doubled in the past 10 years.

In April 2010, Orano and local authorities signed a series of protocols and procedures to implement multipartite radiological control of materials and equipment in the streets of Arlit and Akokan, including more stringent monitoring of used materials being taken from the industrial sites.

Somaïr and Cominak manage two hospitals in Arlit and Akokan with technical support centres. First created to provide medical care for the miners and their families, the centres are now largely open to the public free of charge. Imouraren also recently opened a medical centre that treats local residents for free.

As the country’s largest private employer, Orano has been contributing to the improvement of living conditions in local communities. In 2010, Orano initiated an ambitious societal policy and committed EUR 6 million per year for the next five years to implement it. Mining activity has resulted in the construction of housing and a modern network of water distribution and contributes to the funding of public services and the construction of educational facilities (schools, libraries, lunch rooms, etc.).

Uranium requirements

There are currently no uranium requirements in Niger. However, it has been reported that Niger has started consultations with the IAEA and are considering installation of two civilian nuclear reactors to meet domestic energy requirements and assist in national economic development.

Uranium policies, uranium stocks and uranium prices

National policies relating to uranium

One of the main objectives of Niger’s national uranium policy is to achieve a higher degree of international competitiveness in the industry. In July 2011, President Issoufou stated that he would seek a better price for the country’s uranium exports to maximise their value to support economic and social development. About one-third of Niger’s export revenue comes from uranium.

In May 2014, the government and Orano (formerly Areva) signed a new five-year agreement for the two mines based on the 2006 mining law and expressing what both sides said was a balanced partnership. The royalty rate will increase potentially to 12% of market value, but this increase depends on profitability. The deal stipulates for the first time that the firms’ boards will include Nigerien managing directors – appointed in 2014 for Somaïr, and in 2016 for Cominak. Also, Orano will provide EUR 90 million (USD 122 million) to support constructing a road from Tahoua to Arlit, near the uranium developments, as well as a further EUR 17 million (USD 23.1 million) for development in the surrounding Irhazer Valley. Orano will also build a new headquarters building (Maison de l’uranium) for its operating companies in the capital Niamey at a cost of EUR 10 million (USD 13.6 million). The government expects more than USD 39 million in additional tax revenues annually from the new agreement (Strategic Partnership Agreement). In October 2014, the government formally approved the agreement.

NATIONAL REPORTS: NIGER

Production of each year is sold to joint venture partners, usually in proportion to their equity, at a set transfer price known as prix Niger. The quantities not sold to joint venture partners, if any, are sold to trading companies at prevailing spot price.

Uranium prices

The price of uranium sold to joint venture partners (prix Niger) is proposed by mining companies to the Ministry of Mines, which ultimately decides on its level and duration of validity – usually equivalent to one year. This price is officially published in the National Gazette (Journal Officiel de la République du Niger) and posted on its website. In case the price determination is made in the course of the year, it is retroactively applicable to already made deliveries.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U)

Reasonably assured conventional resources by production method

(tonnes U)

Reasonably assured conventional resources by processing method

(tonnes U)

Inferred conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U)

NATIONAL REPORTS: NIGER

Historical uranium production by production method

(tonnes U in concentrates)

*Pre-2014 totals include uranium recovered by heap and in-place leaching.

**Numbers have been revised since the last report.

Historical uranium production by processing method

(tonnes U in concentrates)

*A subset of open-pit and underground mining, since it is used in conjunction with them.

**Numbers have been revised since the last report

Ownership of uranium production in 2016

Uranium industry employment at existing production centres

(person-years)

Short-term production capability

(tonnes U/year)

NATIONAL REPORTS: PARAGUAY

In July 2006, Cue Resources signed an option agreement with Transandes Paraguay S.A. for the Yuty prospecting licence and started a systematic exploration programme including rotary and diamond drilling in the San Antonio area. Between 2007 and 2010, Cue completed 256 drill holes totalling 31 000 m of core and rotary drilling. In 2012, Uranium Energy Corporation (UEC) acquired 100% interest in the Yuty project.

Recent and ongoing uranium exploration and mining development activities

The only company that has been recently working on uranium projects in Paraguay is Transandes Paraguay S.A. However, in September 2015, the company requested a twoyear suspension of the project due to low uranium prices.

Historic exploration by the Anschutz/Taiwan Power/Korea Electric Power joint venture and by Cue Resources, plus recent exploration by UEC totalled approximately USD 50 million in advancing the uranium exploration projects.

Uranium resources

Identified conventional resources (reasonably assured and inferred resources)

Transandes Paraguay S.A. company has evaluated the identified resources in sandstone deposits as 3 429 tU RAR and 857 tU inferred for the Yuty project. The current resource for Yuty is based on the NI 43-101 “Updated Technical Report on the Yuty Uranium project, Republic of Paraguay”, prepared for Cue Resources. The Coronel Oviedo Uranium project is an exploration project with insufficient data to calculate resources in accordance with international guidelines at this time.

Uranium production

There has been no past production of uranium.

The Yuty project covers 290 000 acres and is located approximately 200 km east and south-east of Asunción, the capital of Paraguay. It is located within the Paraná Basin, which is host to a number of known uranium deposits, including Figueira and Amorinópolis in Brazil. The area is underlain by Upper Permian-Carboniferous continental sedimentary rocks.

Preliminary studies indicate amenability to extraction by ISR methods. Metallurgical test work indicated that a satisfactory rate of extraction can be obtained using a sulphuric acid lixiviant. Aquifer testing, via pump tests, completed in 2011 and previous permeability and porosity testing on drill cores gave a preliminary indication that the parameters are comparable to successful ISR operations in other parts of the world. Since 2006, over USD 16 million has been spent developing Yuty by previous owner Cue Resources Ltd.

Reasonably assured conventional resources by deposit type

(tonnes U*)

* In situ resources.