THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCES IN NIGER

As one of the poorest countries in the world, Niger is a landlocked country with weak industrial base in Western Africa. Niger is endowed with mineral and energy resources, especially great potential of uranium and petroleum, subject to typical geological and tectonic evolution. In order to realize the present status of mining and the latest advances in mineral development in Niger, and to provide more detailed information for mining companies either in China or overseas, the paper introduces the status of mineral development with the latest data, focusing on mineral exploration and mining activities by foreign companies, with emphasis on such commodities as uranium, oil, gold, iron, coal and phosphate. Also, the paper collects the recent movements of large mining companies operating in Niger. Finally, the authors present some suggestions for mineral exploitation in Niger.