By Adriano Marchese
Global Atomic’s operations in Niger are cautiously advancing amid a military coup that saw the country’s elected president overthrown.
While protesting in the capital city of Niarmey continues, the company said Monday that normal business is being conducted at its offices as well as in the development of its Dasa project.
The Dasa project is a high-grade uranium deposit 105 kilometers (65 miles) south of the uranium mining town of Arlit, and over 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) northeast of the capital city.
On Wednesday, a group of military officers claimed that they had overthrown the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, sealed the borders and instituted a curfew.
Global Atomic said it continues to develop the project while a second fleet of mining equipment arrived in the country and is being shipped to the site.
There is currently an international campaign to pressure Niger’s military to release and restore to power to Bazoum.
As part of the pressure, the EU froze some of its aid to Niger, while the U.S. said its assistance was in jeopardy. The U.S. has been a close Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants and Russian encroachment in the region.
Global Atomic’s chief executive, Stephen Roman, wouldn’t speculate on the outcome of EU and U.S.’s campaign but said the company’s board and management team are monitoring the situation.
Write to Adriano Marchese at [email protected]
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