Key Minerals in Africa: Botswana, Namibia, Malawi – The Future of France’s Uranium Supply

Africa’s second-largest uranium producer, Niger, has not supplied uranium to France for years. While Orano, the French nuclear group, protests its forced exit from Niger, it is actively expanding operations across other parts of Africa, particularly in southern Africa, which is rich in uranium reserves.

In June 2025, Niger nationalized Orano’s local subsidiary, terminating France’s uranium mining activities in the country. Less than a year later, Orano has entered Botswana—a country among several African nations potentially capable of supplying uranium to France’s nuclear industry.

Uranium is a critical raw material for nuclear reactors, which accounted for 68.1% of France’s electricity mix in 2025. Prior to 2023, part of France’s nuclear fuel came from Niger, the country’s second-largest supplier after Kazakhstan. The coup in July 2023 disrupted these exports, ultimately leading to the nationalization of Orano’s subsidiary, Somair, in Niger. This setback to France’s diversification strategy has prompted Paris to accelerate efforts to find alternative sources.

Focusing on Botswana

During President Duma Boko’s recent visit to French President Emmanuel Macron, the issue was raised, emphasizing opportunities for French mining investments. Meanwhile, Orano stated on its website that uranium exploration in Botswana is one of its 2026 targets. The company has already obtained the necessary permits from Botswana authorities.

Although Botswana is currently not an African uranium producer, it is estimated to hold up to 800,000 tons of uranium reserves. This potential has attracted several foreign investors, including Australia’s Lotus Resources. In March 2025, Lotus Resources released a preliminary report indicating that its Letlhakane project in Botswana could produce up to 3 million pounds of uranium annually over the next decade.

Another Australian firm, Pioneer Minerals, secured a uranium exploration license in Botswana last year. Nevertheless, Orano is unlikely to replace the lost output from Niger’s uranium mines through Botswana’s mines for many years—even decades—requiring successful exploration and a series of technical and economic studies.

Namibia: A Longstanding Ally

While Botswana represents a long-term opportunity, Namibia offers a mature alternative. As the world’s third-largest uranium producer with Africa’s largest uranium reserves, Namibia has also been a historically significant uranium supplier to France. Although Orano currently operates no mines in Namibia, France can source uranium from Chinese and Australian companies active there while awaiting possible restarts of its own facilities.

Orano owns the Trekkopje mine located 70 kilometers north of Swakopmund in Namibia. After briefly operating from 2008 to 2012, this French uranium expert placed the site into maintenance status more than a decade ago due to low uranium prices. However, since 2023, nuclear fuel prices have nearly doubled, prompting a review of the closure plan starting in 2024. According to estimates by the Namibian Mining Chamber, the remaining mine life at Trekkopje is approximately 19 years.

Malawi, Zambia, and South Africa: Notable Players

In Malawi, Australia’s Lotus Resources restarted operations at the Kayelekera mine in August 2025, bringing the country back into the global uranium market after more than ten years of shutdown. The operator aims to achieve an annual production of 2.4 million pounds over the next decade and plans to begin its first commercial sales in the second quarter of 2026.

The mine has already secured buyers, including uranium trader Curzon Uranium and an unnamed North American power company. Although France has no direct operations in Malawi, the output from the Kayelekera mine can be included in long-term supply contracts held by market participants.

South Africa also holds substantial potential. According to the World Nuclear Association, South Africa possesses 5% of the world’s uranium reserves, ranking just behind Namibia and Niger on the African continent. The French Ministry of Finance notes that these reserves are primarily associated with gold deposits in the Witwatersrand Basin, making uranium a limited byproduct and thus constraining independent development of a full-scale uranium industry.

Currently, no French companies operate uranium mining projects in South Africa or Zambia (another country drawing attention). Atomic Eagle is developing the Muntanga project in France, whose feasibility study published in March 2026 forecasts an average annual production of 2.2 million pounds over the project’s 12-year mine life.

Beyond meeting France’s supply needs, this overview underscores the vast potential of Africa’s uranium resources. From Botswana to Zambia, passing through Namibia, Malawi, and South Africa, various projects are advancing at different stages of expansion. For Orano and other Western buyers, Africa remains a key source for long-term supply security.

Source: ecofinagency

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862360958399495/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.