Niger: President Tiani wants to electrify Africa and restore energy sovereignty with uranium
In a global context marked by a redefinition of energy dynamics, Niger—under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani—is strongly asserting its ambition to become a strategic pillar in Africa’s energy development. Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine proudly conveyed this vision in Kigali at the Nuclear Energy and Innovation Summit in Africa (NEISA), showcasing a bold, forward-looking approach driven by a resolutely Pan-African leadership.
Since assuming power, President Tiani has embodied a strategic renewal for Niger. By placing energy and mineral resources at the center of public policy, he is restoring meaning to national sovereignty. Far from past extractivist models, the goal is clear: to process resources locally, create added value within Niger, and turn uranium into a tool of emancipation for the entire African continent.
As Africa’s top uranium producer and the world’s second, Niger boasts well-established expertise built over more than half a century. Now, thanks to bold decisions—such as the nationalization of Somaïr and the revival of major projects like the Dasa mine and the Imouraren deposit (with an estimated 200,000 tons of reserves)—the country is committing to full control of the nuclear value chain. Through the Niger Nuclear Energy Program (PEN), major milestones have already been achieved: the adoption of a national strategy, the establishment of a robust regulatory framework, and the initiation of key strategic partnerships.
But beyond the figures and projects lies a profoundly Pan-African vision championed by President Tiani. “For decades, our uranium powered Europe. It’s time for it to power Africa,” declared the Prime Minister in Kigali. This statement encapsulates Niger’s broader ambition: to put its resources at the service of Africa’s development, to build energy solidarity rooted in sovereignty and innovation, and to ensure that every citizen has access to clean, sustainable, and equitable energy.
The benefits for the Nigerien people are immense: the creation of skilled jobs, gradual industrialization, the development of energy infrastructure, and the overall improvement of living conditions. Through responsible management of its wealth, Niger is emerging as a model for a new African paradigm.
President Abdourahamane Tiani’s commitment to the energy and mining sectors is more than a development strategy—it is a declaration of economic independence, an act of faith in Africa, and a promise to future generations. Niger is showing the way: that of a rising Africa—master of its destiny, empowered by its resources, and united in its sovereignty.
