Stephen Teeuwen
Senior Advisor Environmental and Social Assessment
The Azélik uranium mine was operational between 2010 and 2014 and subsequently closed due to falling uranium prices. The new owners aim to reopen the mine, for which an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is required. In order to inform its decision-making on the reopening of the Azélik mine, the Bureau national pour l'évaluation environnementale (BNEE) of Niger requested the NCEA to conduct an independent review of the ESIA for the project.
The 2026 ESIA covers a broad array of topics and includes a good description of the legal framework. However, it its review the NCEA notes several shortcomings and formulates several recommendations to address these before a well-informed decision on the project can be made. Some observations worth noting include:
- There is a lack of recent and sufficiently detailed baseline data regarding the initial environmental and social conditions. This description should incorporate data generated during the 2010–2014 operational period.
- The ESIA should provide a more thorough analysis of the impacts on local communities and nomadic populations. It is recommended that a stakeholder engagement plan be developed.
- Regarding environmental and health aspects, the ESIA should be supplemented with quantitative risk analyses concerning dust, radon, ionizing radiation, toxic gases, noise, vibrations, major accidents, and thermal working conditions. A radiological management plan must be finalized and appended to the ESIA.
- Furthermore, the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) should be revised to specify indicators, responsibilities, monitoring frequencies, alert thresholds, corrective procedures, and a realistic budget.
- Water management is a critical issue. The National Environmental Assessment Commission (CNEE) recommends producing an updated hydrogeological analysis. The risks of surface water and groundwater pollution must be analyzed more comprehensively.