Overview
Africa is a major producer of uranium, accounting for nearly 20% of global production. This production comes from just four major producers, Niger, Gabon, Namibia and South Africa. All production is from primary uranium deposits, apart from South Africa where it is produced from certain Witwatersrand gold mines as a by-product. Niger is the world’s 3rd largest uranium producer, after Canada and Australia, producing 2 900 t in 2000. Gabon’s output slumped by 60% to 294 t, after doubling its output to 731 t in 1998.
Mining Companies active
Cogema, the French Uranium producer, has mines in both Niger and Gabon. Cogema has a 39% interest in the Arlit mine in the Aïr Massif. The Arlit mine is owned by Société des Mines de l’Aïr (SOMAÏR), which is a joint venture with the other major stakeholder, ONAREM (the state mineral resources organisation) with a 36.6 % holding.
Rio Tinto’s Rossing mine in Namibia is probably the most efficient open pit uranium mine in the world. Although production has been decreasing on the back of a weak uranium price, it produced 3 100t in 2000. Rossing accounts for 3.5% of Namibia’s GDP and 8.5% of total exports (of which diamonds are the main export product).
Rio Tinto / Anglo American’s Palaborwa also produces minor amounts (10%) of uranium as a by-product of its copper operations.
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