In a major geopolitical maneuver to secure critical energy resources, the United States government has approved up to $414 million in financing for a major uranium mining project in Niger. The debt facility, granted by the US Development Finance Corp to Canadian developer Global Atomic, marks a pivotal effort by Washington to rebuild influence in the West African nation two years after agreeing to withdraw its military forces following a 2023 coup.
The financing targets Global Atomic’s Dasa project, which the company identifies as Africa's highest-grade uranium deposit. With uranium newly listed on the US critical minerals roster, Washington is acting to protect access to strategic supplies. Niger, the world's seventh-largest uranium producer, has been locked in a bitter dispute with French state-backed miner Orano, creating an opening for rival powers such as Russia to expand their presence across the Sahel region.
Diplomatic sources indicate that US Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon advocated strongly for the deal, culminating in summer negotiations in Washington with Global Atomic chief executive Stephen Roman. Although the project provides a rare highlight for US-Canada economic relations amid ongoing bilateral trade disputes, operational challenges remain steep. Amid persistent security concerns in Niamey, Global Atomic is exploring northern export alternatives through Algeria across the Sahara Desert.