Latest news with #Tsivilev
Daily Tribune
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Russia wants to mine Niger's uranium
Russia wishes to mine uranium in Niger, a top source of the radioactive metal ruled by a military junta friendly to the Kremlin, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev has said. Since the junta took power in a 2023 coup, Niger has turned to Russia, which commands the world's largest arsenal of atomic weapons, for help in fighting the west African country's jihadist insurgency. Arguing that Niger should benefit more from being the world's seventh-largest producer of uranium, the junta has also insisted on greater control over its natural resources. That policy has led to tensions with former colonial ruler France, whose nuclear power plants have long relied on uranium extracted from Niger. While on an official visit to the capital Niamey on Monday, Tsivilev met Niger's junta chief, General Abdourahamane Tiani, to talk about the two countries' burgeoning economic cooperation. 'Our main goal is to mine uranium,' Tsivilev said after meeting the general. 'Our task is not only to participate in uranium mining, but to create an entire system for the development of civil nuclear power in Niger,' the energy minister is quoted as saying in an official Russian statement. Mining stand-off During the visit, Russia's atomic agency Rosatom and Niger's energy ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on civilian uses for nuclear power, according to the statement. Among others, Tsivilev pointed to the construction of atomic power plants, advances in nuclear medicine and the training of Nigerien specialists in those fields. Like its fellow junta-run allies in Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger has pivoted away from France and the West in favour of closer cooperation with Russia. As a result of its insistence on exercising more control over Niger's natural resources, the junta is currently locked in a stand-off with the Orano nuclear group, which is 90-percent owned by the French state. In 2024, Niger removed Orano's operational control of its three main mines in the country -- Somair, Cominak and Imouraren -- which the Paris-based company has attempted to win back through arbitration. The Imouraren mine is home to one of the largest deposits of uranium in the world. In June the ruling junta announced it would nationalise the Somair mine, in a move Orano slammed as 'asset stripping'. There was no indication from Monday's meeting that any of Orano's Nigerien mines would be turned over to Russia. When contacted by AFP, the Paris-based miner did not wish to comment on the prospect of Moscow mining uranium in Niger. Uranium was first discovered in the country in 1957 while under French rule, with mining beginning in 1971. Niger produced 3,527 tonnes of the radioactive metal in 2023, equal to 6.3 percent of global production, according to mining industry publication Globaldata.
News24
29-07-2025
- Politics
- News24
Russia eyes Niger's uranium mines as West African nation ditches France
Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev announced Russia's intention to mine uranium in Niger, the world's seventh-largest producer. Since the 2023 military coup, Niger has pivoted away from France and Western allies toward Russia. Niger's military government is locked in a standoff with Orano, the French state-owned nuclear group. Russia wishes to mine uranium in Niger, a top source of the radioactive metal ruled by a military junta friendly to the Kremlin, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev has said. Since the junta took power in a 2023 coup, Niger has turned to Russia, which commands the world's largest arsenal of atomic weapons, for help in fighting the west African country's jihadist insurgency. Arguing that Niger should benefit more from being the world's seventh-largest producer of uranium, the junta has also insisted on greater control over its natural resources. That policy has led to tensions with former colonial ruler France, whose nuclear power plants have long relied on uranium extracted from Niger. While on an official visit to the capital Niamey on Monday, Tsivilev met Niger's junta chief, General Abdourahamane Tiani, to talk about the two countries' burgeoning economic cooperation. 'Our main goal is to mine uranium,' Tsivilev said after meeting the general. 'Our task is not only to participate in uranium mining, but to create an entire system for the development of civil nuclear power in Niger,' the energy minister is quoted as saying in an official Russian statement. Mining stand-off During the visit, Russia's atomic agency Rosatom and Niger's energy ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on civilian uses for nuclear power, according to the statement. Among others, Tsivilev pointed to the construction of atomic power plants, advances in nuclear medicine and the training of Nigerien specialists in those fields. Like its fellow junta-run allies in Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger has pivoted away from France and the West in favour of closer cooperation with Russia. As a result of its insistence on exercising more control over Niger's natural resources, the junta is currently locked in a stand-off with the Orano nuclear group, which is 90% owned by the French state. In 2024, Niger removed Orano's operational control of its three main mines in the country - Somair, Cominak and Imouraren - which the Paris-based company has attempted to win back through arbitration. The Imouraren mine is home to one of the largest deposits of uranium in the world. In June the ruling junta announced it would nationalise the Somair mine, in a move Orano slammed as 'asset stripping'. There was no indication from Monday's meeting that any of Orano's Nigerien mines would be turned over to Russia. When contacted by AFP, the Paris-based miner did not wish to comment on the prospect of Moscow mining uranium in Niger. Uranium was first discovered in the country in 1957 while under French rule, with mining beginning in 1971. Niger produced 3 527 tonnes of the radioactive metal in 2023, equal to 6.3% of global production, according to mining industry publication Globaldata.
Business Insider
29-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Last Sahel regime aligns with Russia on nuclear energy cooperation in Africa
The agreement, which focuses on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, will see Russia's Rosatom assist these West African nations in developing nuclear infrastructure, including the construction of power plants and research reactors, as well as the supply of nuclear fuel. The announcement was made on July 28 by the press office of Russia's Ministry of Energy. ' During today's meeting, an important memorandum of cooperation in the field of peaceful atom was signed. Our task is not just to participate in the extraction of uranium, we must create an entire system for the development of a peaceful atom in Niger,' Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev stated via the ministry's official Telegram channel. Tsivilev added that the memorandum outlines collaboration on multiple fronts, including 'the construction of nuclear power plants (NPP), nuclear medicine, and joint training of specialists in this field.' The deal highlights Russia's long-term strategy to build a nuclear development ecosystem in Africa's military-led states and signals a new phase of strategic engagement in the Sahel. Russia's deepening nuclear deals with Africa's Sahel states This deal marks the latest sign of deepening ties between Russia and Africa's transitional governments, which have increasingly turned to Moscow for diplomatic and technological support amid strained relations with Western powers. Last month, the Russian government approved similar civil nuclear cooperation agreements with Mali and Burkina Faso, signaling Moscow's long-term intent to expand its energy partnerships and influence across the strategically important Sahel region. Russia and Burkina Faso concluded their agreement at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev signing on behalf of Russia, and Burkina Faso's Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, Yacouba Zabré Gouba, signing on behalf of Ouagadougou. Likewise, Russia and Mali formalized their cooperation in Moscow, where Likhachev signed the agreement alongside Malian Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Boubacar Diane. For the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—this growing nuclear partnership is seen as a bold move toward energy sovereignty and long-term economic resilience, amid persistent power shortages, population growth, and infrastructure gaps. The agreements also reflect the evolving global realignment in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, with Russia increasingly positioning itself as a strategic ally to African governments looking beyond Western-led institutions for support and investment.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Russia take holistic stock of bilateral ties
ISLAMABAD: The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM), Syed Tariq Fatemi, undertook a visit to the Russian Federation from June 02-04, 2025. After meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, the SAPM called on Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation and Co-Chair of the Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC). Both sides took a holistic stock of bilateral relations, identifying key areas of trade, energy, connectivity, new Steel Mills, cybersecurity, etc for future cooperation. The SAPM emphasised on the prospects of further development of energy cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. In addition, he briefed Tsivilev on the recent developments in South Asia, while lauding Russia's role in de-escalating tensions. Tsivilev expressed satisfaction on the outcomes of the ninth Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) held in Moscow in 2024 and hoped for productive next IGC in Pakistan this year, adding that Pakistan has the potential to become a 'transit hub'. Later, the SAPM called on Yury Ushakov, Senior Aide to the President on Foreign Policy Issues. During the meeting, the SAPM briefed him on the recent escalation in the South Asia and outlined Pakistan's position vis-à-vis India's aggressive actions, especially unilaterally holding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. Besides these meetings, the SAPM gave two interviews to the leading Russian TV networks, expressing his candid views on the increasingly positive trends in Pakistan-Russia relations and recent escalation between Pakistan and India. He also had an extensive exchange of views with a group of academics and journalists from prominent print and electronic media. Furthermore, the SAPM was hosted by Valdai Discussion Club, a prestigious think-tank in Moscow, for a talk on 4th June, on the recent developments in South Asia and Pakistan-Russia relations. Overall, the visit of the SAPM was highly successful, with several important official engagements and candid exchanges with parliamentarians, a think tank, several academics and journalists. It paved the way to explicitly share Pakistan's perspective on the recent situation and other important issues, such as IWT to the Russian side. There was widespread appreciation for the manner in which Pakistan was enhancing its relations with Russia, in important areas of trade, investment, energy and connectivity routes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Russia, China discuss Beijing's participation in Russian LNG projects, minister says
May 8 (Reuters) - Chinese companies' involvement in Russian liquefied natural gas projects is being discussed by Russian and Chinese delegations at talks in Moscow, the Interfax news agency cited Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev as saying on Thursday. When asked about the possibility of Russian companies entering LNG projects in Ust-Luga or other locations in Russia, Tsivilev said that the topic was "being discussed at the moment," but did not provide further details. The state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and Silk Road Fund hold stakes in Russia's Yamal LNG project, while CNPC and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are involved in the Arctic LNG 2 project. Russia has repeatedly welcomed the prospect of Chinese companies participating in the construction of an LNG plant and a gas chemical complex in Ust-Luga. Russia and China will sign a large number of documents later on Thursday, including an updated investment agreement, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting in Moscow. Xi is in the Russian capital this week for commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
