Romania in Talks to Purchase 300 Tons of Uranium from Niger, Nuclear Fuel Supply Diversification Faces Legal Uncertainties

Romania's state-owned nuclear power company Nuclearelectrica has initiated negotiations to purchase 300 tons of uranium from Niger, against the backdrop of Romania's push to diversify its external nuclear fuel sources. The talks began on April 13, 2026, with Niger's Minister of Mines Ousmane Abarchi responding positively, after which the Romanian delegation continued engagement with the Nigerien side. The transaction is valued at approximately $40 million, but Nuclearelectrica has emphasized that no final agreement has been reached yet.

The potential appeal of this uranium supply lies in Romania's expanding nuclear power development plans, while domestic large-scale uranium mining has ceased. As the operator of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, Nuclearelectrica needs to ensure a long-term, stable, and controllable supply of nuclear fuel. Amid the evolving energy security landscape in Europe, securing additional external supply channels has become a key strategy for Romania to safeguard its nuclear power system operations.

However, this transaction faces significant legal obstacles. French company Orano previously controlled the Somaïr uranium mining operations in Niger and has raised disputes over the rights to the related uranium resources. Courts have previously prohibited the sale of uranium produced by Somaïr, meaning that even if Romania and Niger have procurement intentions, actual delivery could still be constrained by judicial proceedings and property rights disputes.

Competition for Niger's uranium resources also carries geopolitical overtones. The stockpiled uranium in the country has drawn attention not only from Romania but has also been described by media as an object of interest to external powers such as Russia. For Niger, uranium exports are tied to fiscal revenue and mining sovereignty; for Romania, this is both a commercial procurement and a step toward reducing nuclear fuel supply risks and decreasing dependence on a single source. Whether the current negotiations can advance ultimately depends on whether the ownership of the stockpiles, export permits, and related international legal disputes can be resolved.