THE US government has approved up to $414m in financing for a uranium project in Niger, Reuters reported.
The move comes two years after Niger expelled US forces from the country.
The US Development Finance Corporation has approved the debt facility for Canadian miner Global Atomic’s Dasa uranium project, the company said.
The financing could give the US access to an additional source of uranium at a time when Niger, the world’s seventh-largest producer, is embroiled in a dispute with French state-backed miner Orano.
Relations between Washington and Niger deteriorated after the military government that seized power in a 2023 coup ordered US forces to leave the country in 2024. Niger has since strengthened security ties with Russia.
Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters the US ambassador had encouraged Washington to rebuild ties with Niger and support Dasa after the Trump administration took office with a greater emphasis on commercial deals in Africa.
The project was also viewed as a way of securing access to a strategic energy resource that could otherwise fall under the influence of rival powers, the sources said.
Global Atomic CEO Stephen Roman travelled to Washington this year to resolve issues holding up approval of the financing.
Niger’s government did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
