A new geopolitical contest is unfolding in West Africa; In Niamey this week, Russia’s government formally offered to construct a nuclear power plant in Niger, signaling its intent to expand influence in one of the continent’s most resource-rich but energy-poor nations. The move is widely seen as part of Moscow’s strategy to challenge France’s historic dominance over Niger’s uranium industry, which has long supplied a significant share of the fuel powering French nuclear plants.
Niger possesses some of the world’s richest uranium deposits, contributing around four percent of global supply. However, despite this strategic advantage, the country continues to face severe electricity deficits. Domestic power generation has relied heavily on coal and imports from Nigeria, which earlier this year cut its electricity exports to Niger by nearly half, reducing supply from 80 megawatts to 46 MW. The reduction triggered widespread outages, leaving businesses and households in crisis.
For decades, Niger exported raw uranium to France for refinement abroad, leaving the local population with limited benefits from the resource wealth beneath their soil. Now, however, the country’s military government has moved to nationalize its mines and renegotiate contracts with foreign operators. The state has demanded greater royalties, increased local processing, and a larger share of revenues. These measures have already pushed the Franco-Nigerien uranium joint venture, SOMAIR, majority-owned by French company Orano (formerly Areva), toward bankruptcy after a year of export restrictions.
Against this backdrop, Russia has presented itself as an alternative partner. In July, Niger and Russia signed a memorandum on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Under the deal, Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, is expected to support the development of nuclear infrastructure, including potential power plants, research reactors, and local capacity building. Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev emphasized that the partnership was not limited to extraction, but intended to create “an entire system for the development of a peaceful atom in Niger.”
The offer has been interpreted as a strategic maneuver: by linking nuclear technology with Niger’s unmet energy needs, Moscow is attempting to strengthen its foothold in the Sahel while displacing France’s influence. Similar cooperation agreements have already been signed between Russia and neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which, like Niger, are governed by military juntas that have distanced themselves from Western partners.
While Russia’s proposal has generated attention, questions remain over its feasibility and implications. Nuclear power plants demand enormous upfront capital investment, advanced technical expertise, and stringent safety standards, factors that may challenge Niger’s limited institutional capacity. Building and maintaining such infrastructure also requires stable governance, strong regulation, and reliable supply chains, all of which remain uncertain under current political and economic conditions.
Read also: Botswana declares public health emergency amid Diamond revenue decline
The proposal raises complex trade-offs; On one hand, nuclear energy could help Niger address chronic electricity shortages, reduce reliance on imported power from Nigeria, and support economic diversification away from raw mineral exports. On the other hand, concerns have been raised about long-term debt, environmental risks, waste management, and whether local communities would benefit directly from such a project.
The principle of nationalization now being advanced by Niger and its partners in the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, is aimed at ensuring that strategic resources such as uranium, gold, and oil deliver tangible benefits to citizens rather than being exported primarily for foreign profit. If Russia’s involvement leads to local processing capacity, skills transfer, and cleaner energy access, it could align with Africa’s broader sustainability agenda. If not, it risks replicating the dependency patterns of the past, simply with new external actors.
Read also: Tanzania blocks Soda Ash mining project at Lake Natron to protect Flamingo breeding grounds
Analysts argue that Niger’s pivot away from France represents more than a diplomatic realignment. It reflects the unraveling of decades of uneven relationships between African resource producers and former colonial powers. As Russia steps into this vacuum with energy diplomacy, the outcome will be closely watched across the continent, where debates over resource sovereignty, energy security, and sustainable development are intensifying.
For Niger, the stakes are immediate and existential. With the country under pressure from power shortages, ballooning healthcare debts, and an economy tied to volatile commodity markets, the pursuit of nuclear energy has been presented as both a practical and symbolic bid for self-reliance. Whether the promise of a “peaceful atom” translates into genuine sustainability will depend on governance, transparency, and the ability to balance geopolitical interests with the urgent needs of its people.
